The Milwaukee Bucks, who finished the regular season with the best record in the NBA at 56-17, are in danger of getting bounced out of the playoffs during the Eastern Conference semifinals.

James Harden believes the Houston Rockets can improve offensively. But Harden is as pleased as anyone that defense lifted him and the Rockets to the Western Conference semifinals, where they will encounter the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 on Friday in the NBA bubble near Orlando.