NEWS » a far cry from playing off the last man

HOUSTON -- James Harden was second in the NBA with 29 points per game last season and his 7.5 rebounds were a career high.Still, it was a disappointing year for Harden and the Houston Rockets, who were ousted in the first round of the playoffs by Golden State, and the star knew he had to adjust things to take the team farther this year.Last year was frustrating, numbers individually was pretty solid, but just the love and excitement wasnt there, he said. So I had to look in the mirror this summer and realize that I got to change and I got to get back to how I was.To that end, he refocused this offseason and put an emphasis on becoming a better leader. He organized players-only training and outings in both Miami and Las Vegas in an attempt to create cohesiveness within the group before camp.Just getting to know somebody and hanging out ... it was really good, he said. Thats going to carry over onto the court.The way his embraced his role as the undisputed leader of this team has impressed everyone in the organization, starting with owner Leslie Alexander.It shows that James wants to win very badly, Alexander said. Hes a winning player ... James is one of the top three or four players weve ever had here and he wants to win as much as (Hakeem) Olajuwon and (Clyde) Drexler and everybody else.Trevor Ariza is entering his 13th NBA season, but had the excitement of a rookie on Friday as he talked about how much better things feel entering this season than they did last year. It was a season that saw coach Kevin McHale fired after just 11 games and the Rockets take a step back after reaching the Western Conference finals in 2015.I think just last season was frustrating for everybody because we just couldnt figure it out together, Ariza said. I dont even know how to explain. It was just a weird, weird, weird year.So how have things changed now?The vibe has just been totally different, Ariza said. Everybody is excited to show what theyve worked on and excited just to be around each other.These positive-attitude Rockets enter the season with new coach Mike DAntoni and without eight-time All-Star center Dwight Howard, who signed with Atlanta in the offseason. A big question for this team will be who will step in to make up for Howards absence.Their top options are Clint Capela, a third-year player who saw limited action the past two seasons as Howards backup, and Nene, who played 53 games for Washington last year before joining Houston in the offseason.General manager Daryl Morey raved about Capelas improvement in his first year, but knows hell have to do more this season if the Rockets hope to be a force in the Western Conference.Clint is going to have to take a big step forward and its not an easy step, Morey said. To go from playing 15-20 minutes against often not the starting center to playing 25-plus minutes against front-line guys, thats a big step forward. Its more physical. It takes a big toll on your body to do that night-in and night-out.Along with Nene, the Rockets also added outside shooters Ryan Anderson and Eric Gordon this offseason. Houston expects the addition of those two to fill a void that this team has had in recent years.We were able to upgrade our shooting ... for the style we want to play, Morey said. I dont feel like we had enough shooting (before). We do have that.Everyone is saying the right things and Morey believes he made the upgrades necessary for the team to succeed in DAntonis system. But with all the improvements other teams made in the West, its hard to know what to expect from this team.Alexander was confident, yet tempered when asked about his expectations.I think well win more games than people anticipate, he said. But when the season rolls on well see how well we do.Torey Krug Bruins Jersey . -- Running backs Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings were back at practice for the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday despite being hampered by hamstring injuries. Custom Boston Bruins Jerseys . -- Three close looks at the bucket, three misses. http://www.thebostonbruinshockey.com/brandon-carlo-hockey-jersey/ . -- Aldon Smith believes he is on the path to being sober for good. Bobby Orr Bruins Jersey . -- On the field, it was business as usual for Jameis Winston and No. David Backes Bruins Jersey .J. -- Pitcher Carl Pavano is retiring after 14 major league seasons.Pedros move to Chelsea was trumpeted as one of the signings of the summer when they beat Manchester United to his signature, but is the former Barcelona winger in danger of going the same way as Juan Cuadrado and Mohamed Salah?Just 20 minutes had passed at the Hawthorns in August when Pedro charged through West Broms midfield, played a one-two with Eden Hazard and clipped a deflected finish inside Boaz Myhills near post. It was the beginning of a perfect Chelsea debut for the Spaniard, and the chant from the gleeful travelling fans was clear: Are you watching Manchester?A few days earlier, Pedro appeared to be on his way to Old Trafford when Chelsea tabled a £21.4m offer from out of nowhere. After a charm offensive from Jose Mourinho and Cesc Fabregas, the Barcelona winger signed a four-year contract at Stamford Bridge. I knew I would feel at home here, he said. That was one of the main reasons why I decided to join. Watch Pedros finest La Liga goals for Barcelona Despite the obvious differences between Barcelona and Mourinhos Chelsea, the early evidence suggested Pedro was a good fit. Here was a team player with the work ethic to satisfy his new manager, the high-tempo playing style to adapt to the Premier League, and the quality to create and convert scoring chances.As well as auguring well for Chelsea, Pedros dazzling debut raised questions of United, whose glaring lack of firepower was exposed in a goalless draw at home to Newcastle that weekend. How had they let Pedro slip through their fingers? For a team so obviously lacking in pace and dynamism in the final third, it was certainly a valid question. Pedro celebrates after scoring on his Chelsea debut against West Brom And yet, while Uniteds attacking struggles have continued throughout the season, few supporters are lamenting Pedros move to Chelsea now.The Spaniard has just two goals and two assists in 24 appearances since that afternoon at the Hawthorns, and he is not even expected to start against the Red Devils on Super Sunday having missed out altogether against Watford. Pedro has only scored three goals in 25 appearances since joining Chelsea After scoring in a 3-1 win over Sunderland in December, Pedro was forced to dismiss suggestions he wanted to leave Chelsea and insisted he was excited about working with Guus Hiddink. He spoke with me after the Sunderland game for a minute in Spanish and it felt good, he told the Evening Standard. For me it was perfect. He was telling me is happy here and with the team.That victory over the Black Cats was Chelseas first game since Hiddink was appointed and Pedros goalscoring performance hinted at better things to come under the new manager. But it was another false dawn, with the 28-year-old failing to add a single goal or assist in seven appearances since then despite Chelseas improved form. Mohamed Salah was sold to Roma after struggling to make an impact at Chelsea His plight feels worryingly familiar for Chelsea and he will need no reminding that, over the last 18 months, highly-rated widemen Mohamed Salah, Andre Schurrle, Juan Cuadrado and Kevin De Bruyne have been deemed surplus to requirements and discarded by the Blues.So whats gone wrong? In truth, Pedro is not entirely to blame. The tumultuous final months of Mourinhos tenure were hardly an easy environment in which to settle, and for a winner of 11 major trophies in seven glorious seasons at Barcelona, the adversity he encountered at Chelsea was a completely new experience. Pedro won 11 major trophies at Barcelona, including five La Liga titles Its hard, he told reporters in October.dddddddddddd Everything is very different to the football Im used to. I think there are a lot of differences, very physical football, very strong. All the games are competitive and very balanced.There are style questions, too. Pedro is at his most effective when running in behind the oppositions defence and creating space for his team-mates, but he hasnt had much of a chance to play to his strengths at Chelsea. For the most part, the Blues have been unable to replicate the thrilling attacking football that defined the first half of last seasons title-winning campaign, and the winger has had to come deeper for the ball than at Barcelona. Pedros defensive contribution (league games only) Tackles per game Interceptions per game Chelsea 2015/16 1.6 0.8 Barcelona 2014/15 0.5 0.3 His statistics for tackles and interceptions over the last two seasons highlight his increased defensive responsibility at Chelsea, and Pedros average position in their 0-0 draw at Old Trafford in December was in fact inside his own half and central. Pedros average position in Chelseas 0-0 draw against Man Utd at Old Trafford Its a far cry from playing off the last man and hugging the touchline as he did in Spain, and it has had a knock-on effect on his confidence. Only seven of his 23 shots on goal in the Premier League have hit the target, giving him a far lower accuracy rate than Chelseas other wide players. Chelsea shooting comparison (Premier League only) Player Shots Shots on target Shooting accuracy Willian 25 12 48.0% Oscar 23 11 47.8% Eden Hazard 15 7 46.7% Pedro 23 7 30.4% That happy day at the Hawthorns now feels like a distant memory for Pedro, and he could be forgiven for casting rueful glances back at Barcelona. If something doesnt change soon, hes in danger of becoming the next expensively-acquired winger to be cut loose from Stamford Bridge.Watch Chelsea v Manchester United live on Sky Sports 1HD from 3.30pm on Sunday, or watch for £6.99 without a contract, on NOW TVAlso See:Hiddink: Costa was provokedFalcao left out of CL squad ' ' '