Update: It’s official: James Harden will be sidelined with an injury. According to the Rockets, the reigning league MVP suffered a Grade 1 hamstring strain and won’t see the floor for at least the next two games. The team announced that Harden, who is averaging 28.5 points and nine assists per game this season, will be re-evaluated next week.
James Harden has a Grade 1 left hamstring strain & will miss the Rockets’ next two games, per the team. He will be evaluated at that point for upcoming road trip. James Ennis has Grade 2 hamstring strain & will also miss next 2 games. Nene (calf strain) re-evaluated in 2 weeks.
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) October 25, 2018
Houston Rockets star James Harden has suffered a Grade 1-plus left hamstring strain and will be re-evaluated next week.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 25, 2018
Original: The Houston Rockets are 1-3 on the young season, which is certainly not the position they expected to find themselves in just months removed from being one game away from the NBA Finals.
An offseason of changes to the supporting cast has caused the defense to regress as its clear they’re still trying to find their way without Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute on that end. The new additions haven’t gelled yet on either end, and what was a well-oiled machine from the start last year now has some squeaky wheels.
Few expect that to be the case all year, at least in the form of the Rockets not being a playoff team, but there is reason to wonder whether the ceiling for this team, that last year appeared to be beating the Warriors if healthy, has come down a bit. Making matters worse, Houston is trying to work through these issues without their top stars being out there, as Chris Paul has missed the last two games with a suspension. With Paul set to return, the Rockets’ other star guard James Harden has gone down with a hamstring injury, and it appears that will keep him out at least one game, according to coach Mike D’Antoni.
James Harden (hamstring) will not practice today and is "very doubtful" for tomorrow, Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni said.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) October 25, 2018
Harden left Wednesday’s loss to the Jazz with “tightness” in his hamstring late in the game, and after being evaluated Thursday morning it appears the problem will cause him to miss at least some amount of game action.
The Rockets know the problems with hamstring injuries all too well, as it’s what flared up on Chris Paul to keep him out of Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals a year ago against Golden State. Houston can’t afford to be without Harden long, but they also will need to be cautious with him to be sure that hamstring has fully healed before bringing him back to avoid anything more serious from happening.
