Eric Gordon thrilled for match up against James Harden

March 2, 2016, marked the final time Eric Gordon and James Harden shared the court docket as rivals. The Houston Rockets took a 100-95 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, with Harden main the best way with 39 factors, 12 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals within the win. Gordon, who related on 4 out of his 9 shot makes an attempt from behind the arc, scored 14 factors within the loss contained in the Toyota Middle.

Gordon and Harden embraced one another following the sport earlier than departing to their respective locker rooms. However 4 months later, the 2 opponents grew to become colleagues of the identical abode after Gordon signed a four-year, $53 million deal to hitch Harden and the Rockets in July.

Over the subsequent 5 seasons, Gordon and Harden would take the ground as teammates to create one of many NBA’s most fierce scoring duos, whereas catapulting the Rockets into championship competition.

On Wednesday, for the primary time this season, Gordon and Harden will step onto the hardwood flooring collectively when the Rockets put their six-game win streak on the road towards the 17-7 Brooklyn Nets. However as an alternative of enjoying alongside one another in hopes of extending Houston’s win streak, Harden will retrieve his position as Gordon’s on-court foe.

“It has been some time, and it’ll positively be enjoyable. I’m trying ahead to the match-up. We wish to win, and we all know it’s going to be a aggressive sport. Though we’re treating it as simply one other sport — it’s going to be a enjoyable one for positive.” — Gordon

The pair of former teammates have confronted one another a dozen occasions in regular-season conferences — with Harden getting one of the best of Gordon with an 8-4 document.

Harden has scored 30 or extra factors towards Gordon 3 times whereas averaging 22.0 factors per sport. Gordon has performed a modest job defending Harden prior to now, however the 2018 league MVP winner has enhanced his sport for the reason that final time the 2 performed towards one another in 2016.

However fortunate for Gordon, he witnessed Harden’s evolution over the earlier years to develop a blueprint on tips on how to sluggish the three-time scoring champion down.

“I do know what he does, and I’ve been round him lengthy sufficient. Good gamers are at all times going to be arduous to cease. The way in which I play protection, if they will rating a whole lot of factors, they must take a whole lot of photographs. I prefer to make guys shoot low percentages, and that’s my sport plan.” — Gordon

Picture by Nancy Lane/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald through Getty Photographs

Following the commerce that despatched Harden to Brooklyn in January, Gordon wasn’t capable of play within the Rockets’ two-game collection towards the Nets as a consequence of a lingering knee damage. The Nets swept the Rockets by a mean margin of 15 factors in the course of the 2020-21 marketing campaign, however Gordon feels that Houston is extra outfitted to compete with Brooklyn this time round.

Amidst their six-game profitable streak. the Rockets have averaged 119.3 factors per sport, registered the league’s fourth-best offensive ranking at 118.0, whereas connecting on 40.8 p.c of their triples on 42.5 makes an attempt

Along with Gordon, the Rockets may even have a wholesome Christian Wooden, who missed a sport towards the Nets final season as a consequence of a nagging ankle damage. Because the Rockets’ latest MVP candidate — a title Harden held throughout every of his 9 seasons in Houston — Wooden has averaged 19.3 factors, 11.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in the course of the streak.

“We’re significantly better now, particularly offensively. Now we have to play effectively on each ends of the ground, and we can’t have too many lapses towards them. Now we have to take benefit if they aren’t enjoying effectively. Towards good groups, it’s about making runs when issues are usually not going effectively for them. We can’t make too many errors.” — Gordon

Within the 5 seasons they spent enjoying as teammates, Gordon and Harden developed a close-knit relationship that went past their on-court chemistry.

Maybe the 2 pals will take a second to meet up with one another after the sport. However for the 48 minutes they may spend reuniting on the court docket, Gordon and Harden will accomplish that as foes striving to guide their respective group to a victory — much like that nippy March night time practically six years in the past.

“The dude is a helluva participant. He is without doubt one of the best scorers and playmakers we have now ever seen on this sport. James and I achieved so much collectively, and naturally, we positively want we might have received one whereas he was right here. However issues are completely different now.” — Gordon