Yu Fei kept calling out Yao Ming but failed to find a dunk opportunity.
Yao Ming, on the other hand, was 4-for-7 from the outside, displaying early signs of improvement in his outside shooting.
Harden made a modest debut, scoring 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists against the defending champions.
After playing the Rockets, the following games for the Supersonics focused on evaluating the rookies.
DeAndre Jordan showed little progress, or to put it another way, the coaching staff didn't know what he had improved on besides gaining weight.
What he couldn't do last season, he still can't do now. Whatever he does, he relies on his physical fitness.
Anthony Morrow's shooting ability, however, convinced Coach Karl to give him more opportunities.
Then there was the rookie Alonzo Gee, whose shooting didn't meet the team's needs, but his outstanding athletic ability and high energy on the court, often highlighted by his scrappy hustle for loose balls, impressed.