Matt Thomas, the Toyota Center’s public speaking announcer, tried to use the same tone and excitement on Wednesday night when James Harden’s turn introduced the starting lineup as he had done in the previous eight seasons.
Circumstances were, of course, quite different. There was a backlash from fans of the Houston Rockets, who welcomed Harshan with a mix of enthusiasm and booze, as the 2017-18 MVP returned to face his former team for the first time since his request to trade to the Brooklyn Nets was approved seven weeks ago. .
“There’s a lot of mixed feelings for the fans as far as playing in Houston, but I knew it was going to happen.” “I just wanted to come out here and give them a show.”
Harden Harden succeeded with a sort of impressive performance that has been almost regular for him since he joined the net. It helped Brooklyn win 132-114 against the injured Rockets with 29 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists, his eighth triple-double in 23 games for the Nets to reach the All-Star break, winning 10 of them. Last 11 games.
It was the Rockets’ 13th straight loss, limited to eight available players as the franchise’s longest losing streak in two decades extended into an all-star break.
Rockets point guard John Wall, who scored The 36 points, said: “The way we’re losing, to clear our minds, to find us guys, to try to get some men healthy, to try to get the whole team back, We definitely need a break. ” On a 12-of-30 shooting in 41-minutes. “I don’t know the last time we had a full team. Tonight we only went with eight people, but we didn’t stop fighting. We kept competing, we kept fighting, and that’s one thing you can respect. “
Every time he touched the ball at the start of the game the fans in the low-capacity crowd chuckled, expressing their displeasure at pushing Harden’s rockets for his trade, the divorce process becoming more tense and bitter than he has accepted. Liked. Harden, who became the sixth player to post a triple-double in the first game against his former team, according to Elias Sports Bureau research, said Booz was not affected.
“Once I get to that court, he’s just trying to win,” said Harden, who was 10-of-15 off the floor. “I’m not really worried about anything. It was kind of my feeling – win the game and do what it takes to do what you’re doing. I wasn’t trying to show, I wasn’t trying to do what I normally don’t. Do something about it. “
The Rockets, as an organization, warmly welcomed Harden to return to Houston. He chatted with several Houston employees and players before and after the game. A tribute video showing Houston’s Hardon’s eight seasons and highlights of his charitable work in the community during the game’s first timeout.
“You can tell this means something to him,” said Nets coach Steve Nash. “This place is special to James. Houston means a lot to him – the city, the organization, which he achieved here with this team. I know it was a great game for him. I’m proud of the way he handled it. . “
Harden said he learned “on the Internet” on Tuesday that Rockets owner Tilman Frittita had finally planned to retire Harden’s No. 13 jersey and hang it in the Toyota Center’s rafters.
“My reaction was hopefully that I did something right. Naturally, I came down from the championship, but worked on and off the court. [I] “The last eight years have been selective,” he said. I think the only thing I didn’t do or accomplish was the championship, which is hard to achieve. But as far as bringing excitement to this city, taking care of fans on and off the court, is something I tried to contribute, so hopefully more than that [lack of a championship]”
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