Contenders and Pretenders: Making sense of the NBA’s crowded field
Houston Rockets
After living in Golden State’s shadow over the past five years, the Houston Rockets went all-in on immediate contention by trading Chris Paul and multiple first-round picks to the Oklahoma City Thunder for former league MVP Russell Westbrook.
The potential upside of this deal is obvious. The Rockets’ starting backcourt now consists of two of the last three league MVPs in Westbrook and James Harden. The two are close friends and previously played together in Oklahoma City, seemingly quelling any concerns about chemistry.
Westbrook has averaged a triple-double each of the last three seasons while Harden is coming off of a season in which he averaged over 36 points per game. Both players are undeniably talented in their own right. Harden has an uncanny ability to get to the line and can score at will, while Westbrook is quite possibly the league’s most athletic point guard.
Houston’s supporting cast remains strong as well. PJ Tucker, Eric Gordon, and Clint Capela round out a talented starting five while Austin Rivers and Kenneth Faried anchor the bench. Simply put, depth and talented will not be an issue for Houston.
Concerns about Westbrook’s fit beside Harden, however, may prove to be enough to derail Houston’s season. For the Rockets to succeed, Westbrook needs to change his style of play. Harden is Houston’s de facto leader, and a combination of ball dominance and bad shot selection on Westbrook’s part is not likely to be tolerated.
Houston’s offense will be maximized with Westbrook functioning mainly in a distributor role. He needs to limit his shot selection and use his terrific passing ability to his advantage. However, Westbrook, whether fair or not, has a reputation as a stubborn, selfish player who is set in his ways. That must change for Houston to contend for a title.
While these, concerns are legitimate, it is said that talent wins out. Houston is the only team with two MVPs on the roster, making these Rockets a legitimate challenger for the Western Conference crown.
Verdict: Contender