The Utah Jazz tried to force the left-handed James Harden onto his right to make things more difficult on him on Game One of their first round play-off series against the Houston Rockets on Sunday night.
It didn't matter much to Harden and the Rockets though. He still led the team in scoring and helped facilitate solid offensive nights from everyone else in the starting lineup in the lopsided win.
Harden had 29 points and 10 assists to help the Rockets rout the Jazz 122-90 in the opener of the best-of-seven series.
James Harden excelled with 29 points and 10 assists as the Houston Rockets defeated Utah Jazz 122-90 in the opening game of their first round play-off series
The Jazz tried to force Harden onto his weaker right hand but to little avail in a superb display
Harden and Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni react following a successful play on Sunday
Houston's entire starting lineup had at least 10 points. Eric Gordon had 17, Clint Capela scored 16, Chris Paul added 14 and P.J. Tucker had 11.
'They throw something at him and they might get him a little bit and he figures it out and they don't get him anymore,' coach Mike D'Antoni said about the defensive strategy on Harden.
'He's so good offensively it makes me laugh. He's just so good I don't know what you do ... you're not stopping him. I don't care what you do.'
Harden wasn't surprised at Utah's defensive tactic.
'I've seen literally every defense you can possibly see,' he said. 'So it was just a matter of adjusting and continuing to communicate with the guys of what spots they needed to be in.'
The Rockets had a double-digit lead for most of the game, but the Jazz got within five points midway through the third quarter before Houston used a big run to pull away and sail to the victory.
Harden takes a tumble to the court during a superb performance in Houston on Sunday night
Derrick Favors of the Utah Jazz goes for the hoop under pressure from Gerald Green (left) and PJ Tucker (right) of the Rockets
Harden collides with Utah Jazz guard Ricky Rubio during the opening match of the play-offs
'The third quarter we got some stops
