March 2018 Houston Rockets Wiretap

Giannis Antetokounmpo, James Harden Named Players Of The Week

Dec 31, 2018 7:02 PM

Giannis Antetokounmpo has been named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played from Dec. 24-30. James Harden won the award for the Western Conference. 

While leading the Bucks to a 3-0 record last week, Antetokounmpo averaged 30.7 points, 12.7 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 3.0 blocks and 2.3 steals per game while shooting 62.1 percent from the field. 

Harden averaged 42.3 points, 6.3 assists, 5.7 rebounds, 1.67 steals and 1.33 blocks.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Houston Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks, NBA, NBA Award

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Eric Gordon Considered Day-To-Day With Knee Injury, Rockets Recall Brandon Knight

Dec 30, 2018 5:14 PM

Eric Gordon is considered day-to-day after suffering a bruise on his right knee. He will miss at least one game.

Austin Rivers will start in Gordon's place.

The Rockets also recalled Brandon Knight after a one-game stint with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

Steve Dewald/Rockets Wire

Tags: Eric Gordon, Houston Rockets, NBA, NBA Misc Official Transaction, NBA Injury

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Austin Rivers Draws Rave Reviews With Rockets

Dec 29, 2018 9:32 PM

Austin Rivers is earning rave reviews from Mike D'Antoni and James Harden since signing with the Houston Rockets.

The Rockets are 3-0 in Rivers' first three games with the team, with the shooting guard averaging 10 points while playing over 33 minutes per game in light of Chris Paul's injury.

“He definitely gives us some grit. He’s a tough guy. He’ll hit big shots and he’s not afraid of the moment. There’s a lot of good things you got to have for a good team," said D'Antoni. 

Harden added that Rivers is "a really good defender. He can shoot the ball well. He can make plays and handle it. Obviously, with the guys that are out, with him being basically free, it was a no-brainer. He’s going to have more than enough opportunities".

Rivers credited a familiarity with the Rockets' offense for his immediate success.

“We ran all the same stuff in L.A. It’s all reads. It’s the same offense in terms of 21 action, delay action, the pick-and-rolls, the one-on-one isolations. If you get a mismatch. you go at ’em. These are things that I love to do. I already fit in before I played my first game.”

Alykhan Bijani/The Athletic

Tags: Austin Rivers, Houston Rockets, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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James Harden On MVP: It's Coming Back

Dec 28, 2018 9:34 AM

James Harden stated that he was the front-runner to win another MVP award following a 45-point performance in a 127-113 win over the Boston Celtics. 

"Of course I should be in that [MVP] conversation...I receive a lot of hate, but it won't stop me from going out there and killing every single night, being that dog that I am. You can name a few other people that should be in the conversation. But realistically? It's coming back," said Harden.

Harden is averaging 39.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 8.2 assists over his last nine games while upping his scoring average to a now career-high 32.7 points per game. The 388 points scored over his last 10 games is the highest for any 10-game stretch since Kobe Bryant in 2007.

Tim Bontemps/ESPN

Tags: James Harden, Houston Rockets, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Rockets Have Held Trade Talks With Hawks On Kent Bazemore

Dec 27, 2018 12:30 PM

The Houston Rockets have held trade talks with the Atlanta Hawks this season on Kent Bazemore.

Bazemore is also expected to receive interest from several other contenders.

Bazemore has a player option for the 19-20 season.

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Tags: Kent Bazemore, Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Rockets Sign Austin Rivers

Dec 23, 2018 2:13 PM

The Houston Rockets signed Austin Rivers to a contract guaranteed for the rest of this season. 

Rivers adds backcourt depth following Chris Paul's hamstring injury.

While there was animosity between Paul and Rivers going back to their Clippers' days, Paul had no objections to signing Rivers according to Adrian Wojnarowski. Paul is scheduled to be out for 2-3 weeks with the injury. 

Rivers averaged 7.2 points and 2 assists in 29 games with the Wizards this season. 

Jonathan Feigan/Houston Chronicle

Tags: Austin Rivers, Houston Rockets, NBA, NBA Official Signing

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Chris Paul Out At Least Two Weeks With Grade-2 Left Hamstring Strain

Dec 21, 2018 6:53 PM

Chris Paul has been diagnosed with a Grade-2 left hamstring strain.  

Paul will be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks.  

The injury was sustained during the second quarter of last night’s game at Miami.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Chris Paul, Houston Rockets, NBA, NBA Injury

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Chris Paul Out Indefinitely With Hamstring Injury

Dec 21, 2018 1:50 AM

Chris Paul injured his left hamstring in the Houston Rockets 101-99 loss to the Miami Heat.

When asked for a timetable for Paul's return, Mike D'Antoni said "it'll be some time."

The Rockets are 0-5 without Paul this season, and have been outscored by 9.4 points per game without him in the lineup. 


ESPN

Tags: Chris Paul, Houston Rockets, NBA, NBA Injury

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Rockets Set NBA Record With 26 3-Pointers

Dec 20, 2018 8:47 AM

The Houston Rockets hit an NBA record 26 3-pointers in a 136-118 win over the Washington Wizards.

The Rockets shot 26-55 from deep. Eight Rockets players hit a three, lead by James Harden and Chris Paul combining for 11 makes.

Michael Carter-Williams hit the record-breaking 26th three-pointer with 31.1 seconds left in the game. 

After the game, Mike D'Antoni said "we've got two of the best point guards ever to play the game. I wish I could say that I'm over there doing something that I'm not. We're just riding those two guys and they just know how to play...The ball finds energy and positive things happen."

Tim MacMahon/ESPN

Tags: James Harden, Houston Rockets, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Mike D'Antoni: You Could Play James Harden At Power Forward

Dec 19, 2018 6:41 PM

In complimenting the lineup versatility that Brandon Knight offers the Houston Rockets, Mike D'Antoni threw out the possibility of a four-guard lineup featuring James Harden at power forward.

D'Antoni said "the good thing about James Harden, you could play him at the 4. We could have three little guys and James Harden at the 4 and Clint (Capela)".

Knight recently made his season-debut following an ACL tear last March. The Rockets staff compared him to Eric Gordon in terms of his defensive ability.

“He’s smart, he shoots the ball extremely well,” D’Antoni added. “Before he got hurt, he’s at an All-Star level. The guy can play". 

Alykhan Bijani/The Athletic

Tags: James Harden, Houston Rockets, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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LeBron James Remains Interested In Lakers Adding Carmelo Anthony

Stefan Bondy/New York Daily News

Rockets Have Kentavious Caldwell-Pope At Top Of Wish List

Marc Stein/New York Times

Chris Paul: James Harden Is 'Best Offensive Player I've Ever Seen'

Jonathan Feigen/Houston Chronicle

Rockets Waive Zhou Qi

RealGM Staff Report

Thaddeus Young, James Harden Named NBA Players Of The Week

RealGM Staff Report

Rockets Emerge With Interest In Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Rockets, Pelicans Interested In Trading For J.R. Smith

Kevin O'Connor/The Ringer

Lakers Not Interested In Carmelo Anthony

Broderick Turner/Los Angeles Times

Rockets Sign Danuel House To Two-Way Deal

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Rockets Sign Gary Clark To Three-Year Deal

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Rockets Waive Danuel House

Jonathan Feigen/Houston Chronicle

Carmelo Anthony's NBA Career May Be Over

Brian Windhorst/ESPN