HOUSTON — After an offseason that included a coaching change, general manager departure, All-Star swap and superstar trade demand, there’s a certain unease that surrounds the Rockets entering 2020–21. But even considering the circumstances—both organizationally and, well, globally—things briefly returned to normal at the Toyota Center on Tuesday night. James Harden dropped 12 points and added four assists in 21 minutes, commanding the defensive attention befitting a three-time scoring champion. Following weeks of curiosity, a simple truth has emerged. As long as Harden is a Rocket, Houston should fit comfortably inside the top eight of the Western Conference.
Parsing Harden’s exact feelings toward his current organization is a difficult task.