Last week the Houston Rockets traded Chris Paul and draft picks to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Russell Westbrook. This trade was one of the many shocking moves during this offseason.
The Rockets made the right decision in trading CP3. At age 34, Paul is past his prime and he couldn’t give the Rockets that extra push to overcome the Warriors in the playoffs during his two-year stint. Paul only played 58 regular season games in each of the two years with the Rockets due to injury.
It was time for the Rockets to move on. Luckily, Houston found a suitor to take CP3’s ridiculous contract which was the Thunder. Oklahoma City is rebuilding as they traded Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers and then sending Westbrook to the Rockets.
James Harden and Westbrook reunite after being apart for seven years. Since Harden was traded to the Rockets both players elevated their game season after season and won the MVP award. Although, they played with each other for three seasons, their roles were different than they are now. Westbrook was a starter and Harden was the sixth-man. Both players are now used to being the number one option and they’re going to have to learn how to share the ball.
Harden’s play style is all isolation with an occasional pick n’ roll. The Beard loves to dance on his opponents for 23 seconds of the shot clock and then pulls up from three. This is Harden’s trademark since he’s joined Houston. Russ can play off the ball by cutting to the rim but not effectively because of his inconsistent jumper. Mike D’Antoni’s system revolves around isolation and the surrounding the ball-handler with shooters. That’s why the Rockets have guys like Eric Gordon and Austin Rivers who can nail shots from behind the arc. Westbrook doesn’t necessarily fit that mold off the ball as he shot 29% from deep this past season.
When Russ has the ball that’s when Harden is useless. Since The Beard has been a part of the Rockets, I have not seen him move off the ball. He doesn’t cut or even run around with off ball screens. When CP3 was the ball-handler, Harden would take a possession off and set up camp in the corner. Houston’s current backcourt is like a double-edged sword because no matter who has the ball, the other player will take a hit.
To dive even deeper with the Rockets’ double-edged sword, Westbrook and Harden share the same flaws which are decision-making, shot-selection and a lack of the clutch gene.
Last season, Harden averaged five turnovers per game and Russ averaged 4.5. Having a backcourt that is turnover-heavy is a road to disaster. Decision-making will be vital when two ball-dominant players join each other.
The next flaw is shot selection. Last season Harden averaged 13 shot attempts from the behind the arc and shot 36.8% from that distance. Westbrook doesn’t take a shot he doesn’t like. He feels that he can win all by himself which results to bad shots. Coming off this past season Russ shot 42.8% from the field and he needs to improve on that.
The last flaw that the duo shares is the lack of a clutch gene and decision-making and shot-selection ties into this. For example, recall Harden’s buzzer-beater against the Golden State Warriors.
Although he made the shot, it was a bad shot over two defenders. The percentages of Harden making that is very low. These are the types of shots Harden takes late in games and he hasn’t had much success.
Russ doesn’t have the clutch gene either. When he and Durant were teammates at OKC, there were times where Westbrook wanted the last shot and he would come up short. Since Durant’s departure, Russ still forces passes and shots down the stretch at the expense of his team.
Ultimately, this duo isn’t going to work as Westbrook and Harden hope it will. A backcourt that is ball-dominant and share the same flaws is a double-edged sword. Houston will probably show some glimpses of success in the regular season but your true colors illuminate in the playoffs.
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