[Blinebury] James Harden's leadership fuels revamped Houston Rockets to West semifinals

media conspiracy from Fran, which sure beats the other threads about Rustled Westbricks

http://www.nba.com/article/2017/04/26/houston-rockets-close-out-oklahoma-city-thunder-advance-semis

James Harden's leadership fuels revamped Houston Rockets to West semifinals
Russell Westbrook finished with gaudy numbers, but James Harden moves on with strong boost from teammates

Fran Blinebury NBA.com
@franblinebury
Apr 26, 2017 2:42 AM ET

HOUSTON — There are nights when the 3-pointers practically fall right out of the sky and find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. When every crazy Euro-step drive through the traffic in the lane ends with the ball creeping up over the rim to find a place to cuddle in at the bottom of the net. When every pass is right on target and every rebound falls into your hands and everything seems so easy.

Then there are others when you’ve got to get out a coal miner’s pick ax and dig your way through it.

James Harden struggled with his shot all through the first round playoff series against the Thunder, but it was his Rockets that moved on with a 105-99 win on Tuesday night because he never stops pushing and prodding them.

He finds a way.

Harden came here five seasons ago to find this kind of team, this kind of atmosphere, this kind of bond in the locker room and trust out on the court.

He left here one year ago after another first-round playoff exit and the dissolution of an unfulfilling and unhappy marriage with Dwight Howard searching for answers that eventually turned up on his doorstep.

A new coach in Mike D’Antoni, who practically gave him a jet pack to go with a license to thrill. An upgraded cast of characters that put the deadeye shooters Ryan Anderson, Eric Gordon and eventually Lou Williams all around him, veteran Nene to lock things down in the middle and to supplement the steadfast holdovers Trevor Ariza, Patrick Beverley and Clint Capela. He’s even got an owner in Leslie Alexander who was willing to break his normally taciturn character to storm out of his front row and chew on the ear of referee Bill Kennedy in the first half.

Yes, things have changed and Harden couldn’t have looked more different as the Rockets closed out their four games to one victory if he had shaved off his beard.

He’s not sullen, detached or aloof, but engaged, enthused and energized. He’s the one setting the tone, keeping the pace, showing each and every one of them that he’s all in.

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