The last thing that the Houston Rockets need right now is have another star player go down to injury or at least be bothered by one.
Just a day after Dwight Howard revealed that he has been playing through pain in his knees, James Harden gave Rockets fans and management a bit of a scare when he bumped knees with Orlando Magic player Evan Fournier.
The incident occurred when Fournier was on the attack against Harden when the Rockets met the Orlando Magic in a preseason matchup. The knees of both players apparently got entangled and Harden was simply limping off trying to shake it off. Harden was eventually taken out of the game and never returned.
The latest word on it is that Harden suffered a bruised knee but is expected to return when he and the Rockets deem necessary.
Harden seems to be bent that he should have been last season's Most Valuable Player (MVP), the title which eventually went to Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry.
The bearded one says that he doesn't hold anything against Curry for winning the award but does say that his efforts of helping the Rockets reach the NBA playoffs last year was proof of why he should have been the MVP.
With all that behind, Harden seems bent on proving himself once again as he and the Rockets get ready to face a pretty tough Western Conference division that includes the defending champion Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers, and Memphis Grizzlies.
The Rockets seem to be up to the challenge, especially if they can keep their lineup healthy.
Ty Lawson has added depth to their point guard woes last year. The only player who could need proper monitoring is Dwight Howard who revealed that he had played with an medial collateral ligament (MCL) and torn meniscus throughout the NBA playoffs.
Howard did not undergo surgery but will likely be on close watch by Rocket personnel.
