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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. Chauncey Gardner-Johnson 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. Erik McCoy Womens Jersey . The Celtics closed out their first preseason under Stevens on Wednesday night with a 101-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, who rested a lot of their lineup including former Celtics Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. Alvin Kamara Youth Jersey . Traditional contenders Brazil, Greece and Turkey drew the other three spots to complete the 24-team field for this summers tournament in Spain, basketball governing body FIBA announced Saturday at its meeting in Barcelona. http://www.shoptheofficialsaints.com/Elite-Thomas-Morstead-Saints-Jersey/ .Y. -- Jayna Hefford scored the winning goal Friday as Canada survived a scare with a 4-3 win over Sweden at the Four Nations womens hockey tournament. BARCELONA, Spain -- Ecuadorean striker Felipe Caicedo scored early as Espanyol defeated Barcelonas reserves 1-0 to win the Catalan Super Cup on Tuesday.Caicedo sped past two defenders inside the area and rounded the goalkeeper before finding the open net in the ninth minute of the competition played by Catalonias top two clubs.The match was played in the northeastern city of Taarragona. Marshon Lattimore Jersey. None of Barcelonas top players were summoned by coach Luis Enrique. Barcelona hosts Granada on Saturday in the Spanish league.Among the starters Tuesday were Arda Turan, Paco Alcacer, Andre Gomes, Jeremy Mathieu and Denis Suarez. Wholeslae Jerseys NFL Jerseys Cheap Wholesale NBA Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Cheap MLB Jerseys Wholesale Soccer Jerseys Cheap College Jerseys Cheap Football Jerseys Cheap Basketball Jerseys Cheap Baseball Jerseys ' ' '
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