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    Inside Hoops

    Forget Jeremy Lin and James Harden: Dwight Howard is the key to the Rockets' playoff vision

    MoiseKapenda Bower
    MoiseKapenda Bower
    Feb 2, 2014 | 12:27 pm

    Houston Rockets guard James Harden has gained access into the pantheon of NBA superstars, a truth revealed by the casual acceptance of his being selected as a reserve for the All-Star Game in New Orleans, an honor granted without the slightest murmur of debate.

     

    It required merely two seasons of exceptionality — first as a superlative sixth man for the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2011-12, and then in a breakout leading role for the Rockets last season — for Harden to cultivate a reputation irrefutable enough that a cursory glance at his stats warranted inclusion among the best in the Western Conference. Standing alone, averages of 23.7 points, 5.5 assists and 4.9 rebounds do not require a campaign or any embellishment.

     

    But it is noteworthy that Harden had his candidacy rubber stamped in a season where the competition among Western Conference guards is thick. After ranking tied for third among Western Conference guards in Player Efficiency Rating last season (alongside the Lakers' Kobe Bryant and the Spurs' Tony Parker), Harden enters February ranked behind Western Conference guards Chris Paul (Clippers), Stephen Curry (Warriors), Goran Dragic (Suns), Isaiah Thomas (Kings) and Mike Conley (Grizzlies) in PER. Dragic, Thomas and Conley were bypassed as West reserves.

     
     

      While he hasn't played as efficiently as he did during his debut season in Houston, Harden remains the linchpin to all of the Rockets' playoff hopes.  

     
     

    Furthermore, Harden has experienced a decline in his per-game averages across the board. And while his effective field goal percentage (50.5 percent) is slightly better than it was during his first season in Houston (50.4 percent), Harden is shooting 3-pointers at a higher rate while getting to the free-throw line at a lesser clip compared to last season. In 2012-13, Harden posted a 3-point attempt rate of 36.4 percent and a free-throw rate of 59.2 percent; this season those numbers are 38.1 percent and 53.9 percent, respectively.

     

    Given that he is shooting just 32.1 percent from behind the arc this season compared to 36.8 percent last year, his rate stats likely play a role in his lesser PER (21.1) heading into February compared to the career-high 23.0 PER he posted last year.

     

    With eight games lost to injury, Harden has already missed twice as many contests this season compared to the entire 2012-13 campaign. And it certainly made for an interesting backdrop to have Harden earn his second All-Star Game berth while sidelined as the Rockets (now 32-17 after a romp in Harden's return game Saturday night) earned back-to-back wins over state rivals San Antonio and Dallas for the first time since 1989.

     

    That the Rockets improved to 6-2 without Harden was noteworthy, especially given the outstanding play of Jeremy Lin against the Spurs and Mavericks, and the sentiment that Harden and Lin make for an inefficient backcourt pairing. Though Lin's triple double off the bench in Harden's return Saturday night might combat some of that.

     

    Of course, any chatter marginalizing the impact Harden has on the Rockets is folly. The won-loss record without him is a byproduct of small sample sizing.

     

    More noteworthy: The Rockets have a minus-2.8 net rating with Lin starting alongside Patrick Beverley, Chandler Parsons, Terrence Jones and Dwight Howard. With Harden in the lineup alongside that static foursome, the Rockets have a 12.1 net rating and are superior both offensively (110.4 to 105.4 offensive rating) and defensively (98.2 to 108.2 defensive rating). Any judgment rendered on the Rockets' success without Harden is both hasty and foolhardy.

     

    While he hasn't played as efficiently as he did during his debut season in Houston, Harden remains the linchpin to all of the Rockets' playoff hopes.

     

     NBA Injury Reality

     

    Passing judgment on the Rockets as a whole is an exercise in shortsightedness given how injuries have negatively impacted their cohesion. Despite being 49 games into this season, the Rockets have massaged just 279 minutes from their opening night starting five of Beverley, Harden, Jones, Parsons and Howard. The only teams in the NBA that feature starting fives with superior net ratings and more minutes played than the Rockets are Portland, Golden State and Indiana. As a stark comparison, the Trail Blazers (936 minutes), Warriors (630 minutes) and Pacers (808 minutes) have enjoyed optimal health.

     
     

      Any judgment rendered on the Rockets' success without Harden is both hasty and foolhardy. 

     
     

    Beyond the desired results against the Spurs and Mavericks, perhaps the Rockets finally showcased with certainty an ability to win at any pace. After grinding out a 97-90 home win over San Antonio Tuesday, the Rockets snapped a seven-game skid in Dallas the following night with a 117-115 victory.

     

    Their 3-point shooting, a reliable component of their rim-attacking, long-range bombing, free-throw-heavy offense last season, has abandoned them. The Rockets remain ranked in the Top 10 in 3-pointers attempted (first, 26.1) and made (sixth, 9.0) per game just like last season when they were second to the Knicks in both categories (28.9 and 10.6, respectively). The difference is their 34.5 percentage ranks just 24th; last year they were seventh at 36.6 percent.

     

    The Rockets have displayed an erratic reliance upon Howard, who has been sensational (his 19.2 points, 13.2 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per 36 minutes compare favorably to his supposed prime years in Orlando when he averaged 18.3 points, 12.9 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per 36 minutes). Howard is just third on the team in field goal attempts per game at 11.4 (Harden leads at 16.2 while Parsons ranks second at 13.1), and while touches in the paint should not necessarily lead to shots on every possession, involving Howard even more offensively would only enhance the Rockets' ability to thrive at any pace.

     

    Howard is third among active players with 5.6 points per game on touches initiated inside 12 feet, and only four active players have a superior shooting percentage than his 59.6 percent while averaging at least four points per game on those touches. With three of the Rockets' top four volume 3-point shooters (Harden, Lin and Beverley) posting a lower 3-point percentage this season despite hoisting more treys per game, relying upon Howard is viable.

     

    Interior production is why the Rockets signed Howard to a four-year, $88-million deal last summer, and it's why Howard will play alongside Harden in New Orleans two weeks from Sunday. The sooner the Rockets learn to shift some of the burden from their two-time All-Star guard to their eight-time All-Star center, the quicker they will establish their legitimacy among the Western Conference contenders behind the presumptive favorites in Oklahoma City.

    James Harden's ascent to unquestioned all-star status has been quick and impressive.

    James Harden Thunder
      
    Photo by Christian Petersen Getty Images
    James Harden's ascent to unquestioned all-star status has been quick and impressive.
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    news/sports

    in this corner

    Premier Japanese women's wrestling league performs in Houston this weekend

    Jef Rouner
    Jul 9, 2025 | 12:30 pm
    Two Japanese women wrestlers compete in a ring. One is stomping in the other with both feet.
    Photo courtesy of Tokyo Joshi
    Hard-hitting women's wrestling for two nights in Houston

    For the first time ever, one of Japan's premier women's wrestling promotions, Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling, will be touring Texas, with a two-night stay in Houston this week.

    "Bringing TJPW to Texas reflects Tokyo Story’s broader strategy," a Tokyo Story representative writes in an email. "As a Japan-inspired toy and event company, we see major Southwest cities — especially in Texas — as prime for the growth of Asian pop culture. Houston, Dallas, and others are becoming more diverse, culturally curious, and open to new entertainment formats. This isn’t a one-off stop — it’s part of a long-term push to bring Japan’s creativity to cities with eager audiences. And we are making TJPW Live an annual event!"

    The events happen on Thursday, July 10 and Friday, July 11 at POST Houston (401 Franklin). Tickets are available at TokyoStoryUSA.com.

    TJPW split off from DDT Wrestling in 2012 as a sister promotion (or "league") that ran alongside its male counterpart before becoming its own entity in 2015. In that time, they've launched the career of international superstars like Yuka Sakazaki and Mina Shirakawa (both currently signed to All Elite Wrestling in America), as well as hosting non-Japanese guest grapplers like Thunder Rosa.

    The fighting is excellent and often brutal, but TJPW is also known for its playfulness. Matches embrace anime-like absurdity, such as having a wrestler work in a giant panda mascot costume. The promoters are hoping to one day partner with Texas truck stop icon Buc-ee's for a more mascot shenanigans. Many of the women also perform in J-pop girl groups on of their wrestling duties.

    On Night 1, strike specialist Miyu Yamashita will take on Maki Itoh, known for her flamboyant style and high risk maneuvers. Night 2 will feature much of the local guest talent, such as Houston's own Kaylia Capri (Reality of Wrestling) vs Yuki Arai in a singles bout, and Austin's Vert Vixen teaming with reigning TJPW tag champ Hyper Misao. Other Texans slated to appear ar Maya World, Alejandra Quintanilla, and Billie Starkz.

    The last decade has seen a marked rise in the quality and prestige of women's wrestling in America, with WWE hosting all-women Royal Rumbles and stars like Rhea Ripley and "Timeless" Toni Storm becoming household names. Most major promotions now feature robust line-ups of Japanese women wrestlers, with some like Asuka and Iyo Sky becoming world champions.

    For Japan, women's wrestling has a more consistent history of legitimacy going back decades, and the talent pool there is vast. TJPW branching out into Texas tours gives them a chance to showcase their wrestlers in the land that spawned legends like The Undertaker, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, and the Von Erich Family.

    "The response has been overwhelmingly positive," said the TJPW spokesperson. "Many who had never experienced joshi (women’s) wrestling before are discovering how entertaining, emotional, and uniquely captivating it is. Since announcing the Texas shows, we’ve received a flood of enthusiastic messages — not just from wrestling fans, but from people drawn to the theatricality, comedy, and creativity of TJPW. We've also heard from fans in other states asking us to bring the tour to their cities."

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