Jeremy Lin, James Harden Completely In Sync in Rockets' Opener; Powerful Duo in the Making?

If Wednesday night's phenomenal performance by James Harden and the solid showing by Jeremy Lin is any indication, the Houston Rockets' season might even have dreams of playoff births dancing in Rockets fans' heads.

Harden, already the talk of the league after the shocking weekend trade that dealt the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year from Oklahoma City to Houston, made a memorable debut with the Rockets in their 105-96 win over the Detroit Pistons in the season opener.

He shot. He dished. He stole. He hit from downtown. He threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Pistons, and it all translated to a stunning 37 points-explosion, including four three-pointers, 12 assists, four steals and six rebounds for the newest member of the Rockets.

"I think I just wanted to get out there and play," Harden told reporters after the game, ESPN reported via the Associated Press. "All the talking and all the craziness that has been happening this last week -- I just wanted to go out there and play basketball."

And play he did, both Harden and Houston shooting guard Carlos Delfino bringing the Rockets back after Detroit led 83-72 early in the fourth. Point guard Brandon Knight led Detroit in scoring with 15 points.

ESPN's Seth Landerman writes, "If this performance... is any indication of the type of player he is going to be this season, he could end up being a top-five player by season's end."

He's not kidding. By now, it's a given that Harden-who largely had a supporting role on the Thunder alongside All-Stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook-will have a major role on the Rockets opposite their starting point guard Lin.

And speaking of Lin, the Asian phenom who inspired the Linsanity craze in New York last season had a solid night on production opposite Harden, scoring 12 points and dishing eight assists. There was even one moment of the game where Lin was effortlessly able to lob a pass to a moving Harden for an easy two points, both Houston stars moving in perfect symmetry to each other.

 Both will need to harness that chemistry for the remaining 81 games this season if the Rockets have any hope of making the playoffs. Lin was brought in from New York in free agency to be a scorer for Houston, while Harden-who signed a five-year, $80 million extension with the Rockets Wednesday-will be expected to provide similar steady offensive production like he brought in Oklahoma City.

But if Wednesday's game was any indication, a new star tandem might have taken flight last night in Houston.

"We have him for this year and five more, so six years," Houston coach Kevin McHale said of Harden to the Washington Post. "Our goal is to do a good enough job as a staff that we win, make the playoffs, develop the young guys and that we never, ever, ever come to camp again with 13 new guys."

The Rockets next play the Atlanta Hawks at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Ga.