It’s generally understood that there’s one guy on the Houston Rockets you simply cannot afford not to guard. Yet on the opening possession of Game 1 between the Golden State Warriors and Rockets, James Harden found himself all by his lonesome at the three-point line.
In fact, Harden had enough time to hesitate, do about four double-takes, tie his shoes and take in a movie before he finally decided to launch the wide-open three.
Warriors left @JHarden13 all alone for his first 👌#NBAPlayoffs | #Rockets pic.twitter.com/84fZ8sgMgI
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 15, 2018
Maybe don’t leave this guy all by himself out there on the perimeter, Warriors.
Neither Harden, nor anyone else in the stadium, could believe how wide open he was there. Then, shortly after that, he got under the skin of Draymond Green, who earned a technical foul for bad behavior.