Many expected James Harden to be a part of a young and talented Oklahoma City Thunder team--featuring Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook--that was going to be a mainstay in the NBA title picture for years to come.
Of course, no one expected that an impasse in contract negotiations between the Thunder and Harden would have led Oklahoma City to deal him to western rival Houston just before the season.
Now, for the first time since the trade that changed the landscape in Houston basketball, the sizzling Harden--fifth in the league with 25.1 points per game--will return to his old stomping grounds tonight when the Rockets (7-7) visit Oklahoma City to face Durant and the Thunder (11-4).
After dropping 24 points on the Toronto Raptors in Houston's 117-101 victory over Toronto Tuesday, Harden played it cool when talking about meeting his old team--which he took to the NBA Finals last season--for the first time as opponents.
"I'm on the road. I'm on the road trying to get a win. That's no different than playing at Memphis or at Atlanta, whatever the case may be," he told NBA.com.
Really? Nothing special at all about tonight?
"It's another game," he added.
Westbrook, his former teammate, had the same sentiments. "Won't be nothing for me," he said. "Nothing happened to me."
However, the tale of the tape says different. Harden, who won the league's Sixth man of the Year award with the Thunder last season, played a critical role in Oklahoma City winning the Western Conference title and heading to their first NBA Finals. After going down 4-1 to the eventual champion Miami Heat, many expected the two to meet again in June for the NBA crown.
But Oklahoma City GM Sam Presti, unable or unwilling to give Harden the max contract he desired with his free agency looming after the season, traded him and others to the Rockets, creating a shift in the Western Conference landscape working in Houston's favor.
However, Harden's face-off with his old teammates is not the only story going, as the Rockets are still mourning the loss of absent head coach Kevin McHale's daughter, Alexandra, who died Saturday.
"Right now, it's an emotional time for the whole team," Houston guard Jeremy Lin told NBA.com. "We're missing our leader. Right now, we're just focused on coming out and playing the way we're supposed to play. Hopefully, when he is watching, he can be proud of us."
"I think we're strong enough to get through it," Harden said. "We've got to be there for coach. He's going through a lot right now. Our biggest thing is just supporting him, and making sure we comfort him."
Game time starts at 8 p.m. at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla. For more information, visit NBA.com.
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