When the Houston Rockets traded for Russell Westbrook in the offseason, there were questions about how he would fit alongside James Harden.
Both are former MVPs. Both are best when they have the ball in their hands. And both are headstrong individuals used to being the star of the show.
So far, so good.
While Harden is having a historic season as a scorer, Westbrook is no longer riding shotgun. Displaying his trademark downhill style, he averaged 33.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and 6.3 assists in three games last week as Houston (20-9) extended its winning streak to five and sit third in the Western Conference.
“When you give so much attention to Harden you forget the other MVP that is on their team,” said Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers, whose club was overwhelmed by Westbrook’s season-high 40 points on Thursday.
“You have to respect him and play him the right way.”
The 2017 MVP, Westbrook averaged a triple-double in each of the last three seasons in Oklahoma City before being acquired by Houston in a blockbuster deal involving Chris Paul in July, giving the Rockets one of the NBA’s top tandems.
But Westbrook set a league record with a 41.65 usage rate – the number of plays in which he is involved while on the court – during his MVP campaign, and Harden has led the league in each season since.
So how were they going to share one ball?
Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni has found a simple answer.
“Russell is go, go, go, go,” D’Antoni said after Saturday’s win over Phoenix. “When it’s half-court, maybe it’s James’ time.”
That was clearly illustrated in Houston’s last two games. While Harden was “held” to 28 points - 10 below his league-leading average - by the Clippers, Westbrook notched the first 40-point game by a Rocket other than Harden since 2011.
Two nights later against the Suns, Westbrook collected 30 points and 10 assists while Harden erupted for nine three-pointers and 47 points. It was Harden’s 89th career 40-point game, passing Elgin Baylor for fourth on the all-time list.
“It’s a good balance for our team, for myself,” said Westbrook, who is averaging 23.8 points, 8.0 rebounds and 7.2 assists. “I think it’s moving in the right direction.”
Only Wilt Chamberlain has averaged more points in a full season than Harden’s current norm of 38.8 points. The irony is that in Harden’s seven-plus seasons in Houston, Westbrook is by far his highest scoring teammate.
This is despite Harden again leading in usage rate at 38.5 while Westbrook is sixth at 32.51.
After scoring 30 points just once in Houston’s first 26 games, Westbrook has done it three straight times while Harden has been below 30 twice in that stretch. D’Antoni doesn’t seem to put much stock in that threshold, however.
“I don’t know if 30 is a benchmark or not, but Russell’s playing really well, doing a lot of stuff,” he said. “And you know James has been playing great.”
With Harden and Westbrook finding chemistry, scoring guard Eric Gordon due back from knee surgery before the newyear and an easy stretch of the schedule coming up, the Rockets are positioned to push the Los Angeles Lakers for the top spot in the West.
So far, so good.
Houston Rockets guard James Harden drives to the basket against Phoenix Suns forward Elie Okobo (left) and centre Aron Baynes in the first half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports
