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Rockets’ Mike D’Antoni credits post-timeout and sideline out of bounds success to James Harden

James Harden, Rockets, Mike D'Antoni

Without a doubt, the Houston Rockets are one of the NBA’s best teams. They hold the fourth seed in the Western Conference and will face the Utah Jazz in the first round of the playoffs. It’s no surprise the Rockets do the little things right, and the numbers support it. They are one of the game’s best teams coming out of time outs and sideline out of bounds. Head coach Mike D’Antoni thinks he knows why. Via David Locke, the radio voice of the Jazz.

D’Antoni credits star James Harden for the Rockets’ success in these situations. There is seemingly nothing Harden, Houston’s best player and a perennial MVP candidate, can’t do. He is the undoubted leader of the Rockets and one of the league’s best offensive players.

He has a legitimate shot at winning a second consecutive Most Valuable Player award, locked in a race with Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo. In the regular season, Harden averaged a career-high 36.1 points, which led the NBA. He also posted 6.6 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game as the heart of Houston’s offense.

The Oklahoma City Thunder drafted Harden third overall out of Arizona State University in 2009. He was a productive player from day one but didn’t truly take off until he became the Rockets’ starting guard. The 29-year-old made the All-Star team in each of his seven seasons so far with Houston, averaging 29.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 7.7. assists in that span.

Harden will try to carry the Rockets over the Jazz and into a likely second-round match-up with the powerhouse Golden State Warriors.

The post Rockets’ Mike D’Antoni credits post-timeout and sideline out of bounds success to James Harden appeared first on ClutchPoints.

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