The Houston Rockets are set for another tough early test this season with a premier matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night.
This lines up an opportunity for veteran forward Luc Mbah a Moute to defend four-time league MVP LeBron James, which is something that he believes he and the team do quite well against him, according to Tim MacMahon of ESPN.
“He does so much at his size – sees the floor, handles, strong, explosive, can shoot. You've got your hands full with him. When he's on, it's a problem. But our team, we've got a lot of different guys we can throw at him.”
Although teams under head coach Mike D'Antoni are not exactly known for their play defensively, the Rockets currently rank ninth lowest in points allowed (103.3) while being tied for seventh with 8.5 steals per game. This has played a part in their quick start to the season currently tied for the best mark in the Western Conference with an 8-3 record.
However, James is currently experiencing one of his most efficient campaigns in his 15th season as he ranks fourth in the league with both 28.9 points and a career-high 9.1 assists per contest while also hauling in 7.3 rebounds. What has been most impressive is that he's doing all of that while shooting a career-high 59.8 percent from the field.
Keep in mind, the 32-year-old last year against Houston averaged a double-double 24.5 points on 56.3 percent shooting and 10.0 rebounds along with 6.5 assists in 38.0 minutes per game. Given the manner in which James is playing this season and his highly productive history against his next opponent, it should set the table for what should be quite a stiff challenge for the Rockets defensively on Thursday night.
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