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The Houston Rockets shipped off superstar James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets a couple of weeks ago, but it turns out the trade might've benefited the team, especially on the defensive end.
James Harden lifting off for the Nets has done wonders for the Rockets. 😳 pic.twitter.com/Mu84RDz17M
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 30, 2021
The Rockets have the best defensive rating in the league since sending James Harden to the Eastern Conference, and they have also won four straight games thanks to Victor Oladipo and company (per Stat Muse).
The improvement shouldn't be much of a surprise because the chemistry issues with Harden were severely deteriorating the Rockets team and Harden was never known for his defense, though the “best in the league” aspect is rather surprising.
The Rockers have victories against the Detroit Pistons, Washington Wizards, Dallas Mavericks and Portland Trail Blazers, so perhaps the trade has benefited the Rockets more than was originally thought.
Christian Wood continues to be the frontrunner for the NBA Most Improved Player, and Oladipo has slid right in and impressed in his first few games as a Rocket as they now sit at 8-9, good for 10th in the Western Conference. John Wall also came over in the offseason as Russell Westbrook was sent out, so the transformation from Westbrook and Harden to Wall and Oladipo hasn't affected them too much.
Whenever a team is forced to trade a player, let alone a top player in the league, it usually doesn't end well. However, the Rockets are so far benefitting in a unique way from the departure of Harden, and head coach Stephen Silas has this team playing good basketball with an eye on the play-in tournament.
