Rockets-Pistons Preview

By JORDAN GARRETSON
Posted Oct 29 2012 6:40PM

When the Houston Rockets and Detroit Pistons kick off their seasons in Detroit, the Rockets will take the floor with a new star acquired just four days earlier.

James Harden makes his Rockets debut Wednesday night after a trade few - if anyone - saw coming.

After Oklahoma City was unable to agree to a long-term extension with the NBA's reigning Sixth Man of the Year, Houston shipped Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb, two first-round picks and a second-rounder to the Thunder on Saturday in exchange for Harden, Cole Aldrich, Daequan Cook and Lazar Hayward.

Harden, who was reportedly finalizing a long-term deal with Houston on Monday, instantly becomes the foundation of a team that boasts 11 players with no more than two years of NBA experience.

It's a major change of scenery for a 23-year-old who already has 43 playoff games under his belt. The Rockets went 34-32 last season, missing out on the postseason for the third straight year.

"This is definitely different," said Harden, who averaged 16.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists in the regular season but struggled in the Thunder's NBA finals loss to Miami. "But it's something that we have to learn to deal with. This is a business and everything happens for a reason. I'm going to just to play hard, try to play hard and do whatever it takes to win."

Harden's arrival adds another layer to a backcourt that featured another offseason coup with the signing of restricted free agent point guard Jeremy Lin.

It's the second stop in Houston for Lin, who was cut by the Rockets on Christmas before captivating New York with his play for the Knicks. Lin averaged 18.2 points and 7.6 assists in 25 starts for the Knicks, but how Lin functions as a starter in a full season remains to be seen.

Last year's lockout seemed to have an especially adverse effect on the young Pistons, who started 4-20 before going .500 for the remainder of the season to finish 25-41.

"I love the direction we're heading," coach Lawrence Frank said. "This at times is going to be a tugboat. It may not be a speedboat in terms of progress.

"It's not going to be a quick-fix approach."

One player on a quick rise to stardom is third-year center Greg Monroe. The face-up big man led Detroit in points (15.4) and rebounds (9.7) while also adding 2.3 assists per game last season.

But even with Monroe's ascension and the team's improvement from February on, the Pistons finished 10 games out of the East's final playoff spot and their roster still includes seven players entering their first or second year.

One of those is Andre Drummond, the No. 9 selection and one of the most polarizing prospects in June's draft. The 7-0, 279-pound center is considered extremely raw after turning 19 in August, but averaged 9.0 points and 5.9 rebounds in just 16.5 minutes per game in the preseason.

He also averaged 1.4 blocks and should be able to instantly improve Detroit's interior defense.

The Pistons freed some $15 million in future savings with the acquisition of Corey Maggette, who's in the final year of his contract. Detroit received the 14th-year forward from Charlotte in exchange for Ben Gordon - who has two years and $25.6 million left on his deal - and a future first-round pick.

With such a bevy of inexperience that also includes youngsters Brandon Knight, Khris Middleton, and Kyle Singler, it's difficult to say just how much better the Pistons can be in Frank's second season at the helm.

"I've never, ever made a prediction, even with teams that went as far as the finals," Frank said. "To me, it's all about the process. It's about literally, every single day, making sure we're adding a brick to that foundation, and then the results will take care of themselves."

Houston won the only meeting last season, 97-80, but the Pistons have won 12 of their last 15 against the Rockets in Detroit.

Harden brilliant, Rockets beat Pistons 105-96

By NOAH TRISTER
Posted Oct 31 2012 11:29PM

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) James Harden agreed to a big new contract extension - and he certainly looked worth it in his first game with the Houston Rockets.

Harden had 37 points and 12 assists in a stirring debut for his new team, and Carlos Delfino made four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to lift the Rockets to a 105-96 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night.

Detroit led 83-72 early in the fourth, but Harden and Delfino brought the Rockets back. Houston acquired Harden on Saturday night in a trade with Oklahoma City and agreed Wednesday on a five-year, $80 million contract extension with him.

"I think I just wanted to get out there and play," Harden said. "All the talking and all the craziness that has been happening this last week - I just wanted to go out there and play basketball."

The reigning Sixth Man of the Year fell just short of his career high of 40 points, and his 12 assists were a career best. Not bad for a guy still adjusting to new teammates and a new situation.

Harden started only seven games in three seasons in Oklahoma City, as he developed into an indispensable reserve. But he was in the starting lineup Wednesday and looked ready to play a bigger role with Houston.

"I just tried to score and create opportunities," Harden said. "Carlos Delfino came in hot. I just tried to get my bigs involved. A lot of different guys stepped up, and I think that's how it's going to be throughout this entire season."

Jeremy Lin, Houston's other big acquisition, had 12 points and eight assists. The Rockets won without Patrick Patterson, who was out with a left quad strain.

Brandon Knight led Detroit with 15 points.

With Houston down 11 points, Harden started the comeback with a 3-pointer, and Greg Smith followed with a dunk. Detroit led only 85-83 after consecutive 3-pointers by Delfino, then a layup by Chandler Parsons tied it.

Smith dunked to put the Rockets ahead 89-87, and he dunked again to make it a four-point game before hobbling off with what he later said was a minor left foot injury. By then, Houston was already taking control of the game behind its two new playmakers, Harden and Lin.

"They're very smart players. You've got to give credit to them," Smith said. "They know what they're doing on the court. They're very intelligent."

A dunk by Detroit's Jonas Jerebko cut the lead to two, but Delfino made two more 3-pointers to make it 97-89.

Harden pretty much put the game away with a three-point play with 1:27 remaining that put Houston ahead 104-94.

"They keep it so simple as far as just spreading it out and letting him create," Detroit's Rodney Stuckey said. "Pick and rolls, that's pretty much what got us. They did a good job of spreading us out. He was getting in the lane, making shots and finding his teammates and they were making shots, too."

Attendance was announced at 16,646 at the Palace, and there were plenty of empty seats on Halloween. The fans who did turn out saw an entertaining performance by the Pistons that ultimately fell short.

Harden scored 19 points in the first half, but Detroit led 58-55 after a 36-point second quarter.

"I thought it was a challenge for James to kind of figure out what we were doing," Rockets coach Kevin McHale said. "We put some plays in that he was comfortable with that they ran at Oklahoma City."

The Rockets led 65-58 after Harden's two-handed dunk off a nice one-handed bounce pass from Lin. The Pistons looked terrific for the rest of the quarter. They scored 13 straight points - including consecutive dunks by Greg Monroe and Jason Maxiell - to take a 71-65 lead.

A 3-pointer by Harden cut the deficit to two, but Detroit ran off another eight straight points and led 79-69 following a basket by Kyle Singler.

It was 81-72 after three quarters.

NOTES: Detroit's Corey Maggette was out with a left calf strain. ... There was a brief delay near the end of the second quarter when what looked like steam began coming out of a generator behind one of the baskets. ... Stuckey went 1 for 10 from the field. ... Pistons owner Tom Gores was noncommittal when asked about the possibility of the team someday playing in downtown Detroit. "You don't want to leave and say, `Nice to see you, the Palace.' I don't think you want to do that," Gores said. "If the future is downtown and that's what we have to do to grow, I'm not against that."

Notebook: Rockets 105, Pistons 96

Dana Gaurauder, for NBA.com
Posted Wed Oct 31, 2012 11:55 PM - Updated Wed Oct 31, 2012 11:55 PM

THE FACTS: James Harden, acquired in a blockbuster trade with Oklahoma City over the weekend, sparkled in his Houston debut with 37 points and 12 assists as the Rockets defeated the Detroit Pistons 105-96 Wednesday at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Harden's new backcourt partner, Jeremy Lin, supplied 12 points, eight assists and four steals in his first game as the Rockets' starting point guard. Guard Brandon Knight led the Pistons in their opener with 15 points.

QUOTABLE: "It's a new role for me. I think everybody knows that. My job is just to do the best I can every day, whether it's in a game, in a practice, whether it's off the court, charity events, whatever the case may be. I just have to be a leader out there." -- Harden on becoming the Rockets' franchise player

THE STAT: 25. Harden was used in a sparkplug role with the Thunder but he was never asked to carry the offense the whole way. He was a third wheel to Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, but he quickly embraced his responsibility as Houston's primary threat. He attempted 25 field goals and made 14.

TURNING POINT: Down 83-72 early in the fourth, Houston responded with a 25-6 outburst. Harden sparked it with a 3-pointer and forward Greg Smith contributed three dunks. A pair of Carlos Delfino 3-pointers finished it off to give the Rockets an eight-point advantage, 97-89. Detroit never got closer than four points the rest of the way.

QUOTABLE II: "The ball is going to find him a lot because he's a good player. If you play the right way, the ball finds the right guy at the right time." -- Rockets coach Kevin McHale on Harden

HOT: Delfino, who played for Toronto last season, made a quick impact as the Rockets' sixth man. He made 5-of-6 3-point attempts against one of his former teams. The veteran swingman also grabbed seven rebounds.

NOT: The Pistons rely heavily on their backcourt of Rodney Stuckey and Knight and they both failed to deliver. Stuckey shot just 1-for-10 from the field, as Harden played just as well defensively as he did offensively. Knight only went 5-for-15 from the field, often forcing shots, and had just four assists from his point guard spot.

ROOKIE WATCH: Detroit reserves Kyle Singler and Kim English were impressive in their debuts. Singler, who played in Europe last season, had 10 points while second-rounder English contributed eight.

NOTABLE: Harden agreed to a five-year extension worth approximately $80 million. "He's gifted," McHale said. "When a lot of stuff happens like this, you may go and try too hard. He's just going to have to relax and play and he'll be fine. ... Houston starting forward Patrick Patterson missed the game with a left quad strain. Pistons backup forward Corey Maggette sat out with a left calf strain. ... Pistons second-year owner Tom Gores said he expected his team to make the playoffs this season. "I came here to win. I'm a now person," he said. "Last year, we said we're going to get into the playoffs (this season) and I meant it. We need to get into the playoffs." ... None of the Rockets starters had ever started an NBA opener.

UP NEXT: For the Rockets, Friday @ Atlanta, Saturday vs. Portland, Wednesday vs. Denver. For the Pistons, Friday @ Phoenix, Sunday @ L.A. Lakers, Tuesday @ Denver.

• Rockets: Machado, Patterson
• Pistons: Kravtsov, Maggette

• Rockets: Morris
• Pistons: --

• Lead Changes: 8
• Times Tied: 4

• Arena: Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit, MI
• Officials: #10 Ron Garretson, #33 Sean Corbin, #61 Courtney Kirkland
• Attendance: 16646
• Duration: 2:25