got over the hump.A Dawkins 3-pointer made it a one-point game got over the hump.A Dawkins 3-pointer made it a one-point game | Forum

HOUSTON -- When the NBA season tips off, James Harden will be able to run Mike DAntonis famed seven seconds or less offense in games that count. Odell Beckham Jr Womens Jersey .The question is whether the scheme of Houstons new coach will be enough to help the Rockets bounce back after last years disappointing season.Were very excited about what (DAntoni) brings ... and the players all fit in with what hes been honing for a very long and successful coaching career, general manager Daryl Morey said.Harden was second in the NBA with a career-high 29 points per game last season and his 7.5 assists and 6.1 rebounds were also career bests. But his individual improvement didnt translate to more success for the Rockets and they were ousted by Golden State in the first round of the playoffs after reaching the Western Conference finals the year before.Then Dwight Howard opted out of the last year of his contract to play for Atlanta and Houston didnt make any major upgrades in an offseason that saw other top teams in the West get even stronger.Harden remains confident that the Rockets will go further than last year and had a one word answer for what his expectations are for this season.Championship, he said.Hes excited about playing for DAntoni and knows that playmakers like him normally thrive in his system.Thats what he does, Harden said. He makes really good players better players. He has a formula that has proven it works.DAntoni is giddy about having someone with Hardens ability in charge of his offense, and hes also happy about the players surrounding the star.I love them, he said. I think we have a good opportunity. The biggest thing is we have a lot of shooting and that cures a lot of things.Houston added a shooter in free agent Ryan Anderson , who led the NBA with 166 3-pointers in 2012, to help spread things out for Harden. Hes eager to play with him and joked that he had more open looks in their pickup games this summer than he did in the last four years combined.Obviously James is the focal point of our team and were pieces built around him, he said. I was brought here to be a piece to open the floor for him more, to help with shooting. I think we have every gap, every piece filled and also we really like each other and that combination goes a long way.Some things to know about the Rockets before they open the season on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Lakers:BEVERLEYS STATUSStarting point guard Patrick Beverleys status for the opener is uncertain because of a sore left knee. Beverley has been out since Oct. 2 with the injury and the Rockets havent provided a date for his return. Beverley, who is one of Houstons best defenders, appeared in 71 games last season and averaged 9.9 points, 3.4 assists and 3.5 rebounds a game. If Beverley isnt ready, the Rockets will look to offseason acquisition Eric Gordon to fill in.NEW AND OLD TEAMMATESAnderson and guard Eric Gordon are both new to the Rockets this season, but theyre not new teammates after both playing for the Pelicans for the together since 2012. Gordon said its nice to have a familiar face in Houston to ease the adjustment to a new team.This will be a fifth season together now, Gordon said. Ive (known) him for a while and its just good to have him around.NENES ROLEHouston signed Nene in the offseason, but he is expected to back up Clint Capela at center with Howard gone to Atlanta. The Rockets expect the 16-year veteran to help Capela with the transition from being a role player to a starter this season. However, they know that hell also push Capela and try to get the starting job himself.I do think hes going to take a role like that, Morey said. But hes a very competitive guy and ... his first thing is lets help the team win and Im going to go kick some tail. But I do think hell be a good role model for Clint as well.DEKKER RETURNSHouston forward Sam Dekker is finally healthy after appearing in just three games last season before undergoing back surgery. Dekker, who was the 18th overall pick in the 2015 draft, has looked good in preseason and scored 16 points in 34 minutes in a preseason game against Memphis on Saturday. Austin Seibert Browns Jersey . They hope to persuade the other team owners and commissioner Roger Goodell to put pressure on Redskins owner Daniel Snyder to drop the nickname they find offensive. "Given the way the meeting transpired," Ray Halbritter, an Oneida representative and leader of the "Change the Mascot Campaign," said Wednesday, "it became somewhat evident they were defending the continued use of the name. Ozzie Newsome Womens Jersey . They had already blown a double-digit lead, fans were hitting the exits, and a long seven-game road trip waited at the end. http:///...homas-Browns-Jersey/ . At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014. WASHINGTON -- Rodney Pryor scored 23 points, LJ Peak added 22 and Georgetown held off Elon 77-74 on Sunday.The Hoyas continually surged ahead with the Phoenix coming back.The game was tied at 36 at halftime but a dunk by Pryor put Georgetown up 52-41 less than five minutes into the second half. Sheldon Eberhardt and Brian Dawkins had 3-pointers in an 8-0 surge for Elon but the Phoenix never got over the hump.A Dawkins 3-pointer made it a one-point game at 8:49, but a 3 by the Hoyas Tre Campbell put the lead at 76-68 with 2:58 to go. Jarvis Landry Womens Jersey. Elon had one last surge and Luke Eddys layup with 15 seconds left made it a one-possession game.Dawkins finished with 17 points for Elon, which shot 42 percent but made 11 3s, and Luke Eddy had 12.Jesse Govan added 13 points for the Hoyas. ' ' '