Houston Rockets: How Russell Westbrook can thrive in D’Antoni’s offense
By David Hakim
Transitioning into Mike D’Antoni’s fast-paced, and 3-point based game plan, Russell Westbrook has an opportunity to change his game for the better with the Houston Rockets
The stories and headlines all speak the same few phrases, all culminating in Russell Westbrook’s inability to knock down shots at a consistent clip. Coming off of a season where the former UCLA guard saw his mid-range and 3-point percentages fall to 28 percent (career-low) and 29 percent, respectively.
Two attributes of Westbrook’s game that were previously his strong suit, aside from his in-human ability to finish at the rim, have now become his weakness.
Following his trade to the Houston Rockets this past offseason, in exchange for Chris Paul, Westbrook has encountered a team composed in a way that he hasn’t experienced before. For the past few seasons, the Rockets have been notorious for their plentiful 3-point shooting, and layup-centric offense. This change not only introduces Westbrook to an entirely new level of spacing but considerably more shooters to make the pass to.
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Similar to Harden, Russell Westbrook has immense gravity and draws double, if not triple teams on his way to the basket. As expected, both Westbrook and Harden have capitalized on this, and use this defensive collapse as an opportunity to kick the ball out to open shooters along the 3-point line for a scoring chance.
While Westbrook has played with consistently strong shooters, of course, Kevin Durant, this past season saw him play with teammates that shoot the deep ball at a 29 percent rate, well below the league average of 36 percent. What the Rockets offer Westbrook is a unit of willing shooters, knocking down the 3 at a 33 percent rate.
Though the difference is not staggering, it speaks to the opportunity that Westbrook has to become a true distributor, allowing his passing game to share the stage with his finishing. Besides, Westbrook has played second-fiddle to star players in his NBA tenure ( to Paul George, Kevin Durant, two athletic, and multi-talented forwards).
In those times, he still maintained a team-high usage rate, something that is likely to change. We can see a similar situation in the Rockets’ experience in the addition of Chris Paul in the 2017-18 season.
Chris Paul, a hard-headed and demanding guard, saw his role change immensely, from undisputed floor-general to a secondary passing option, and leader of the second unit. D’Antoni will likely stagger Westbrook and Harden’s minutes similarly, yet this time around, the change is considerably less detrimental to the team.
Westbrook has displayed, and still does, an all-time level of athleticism and explosiveness, one of the many attributes that makes him so dangerous. Chris Paul’s history of injuries led to the declination of his athleticism and made him less of a threat to score against defenses. Westbrook does not share this issue, as he blows by defenses with ease, opening lanes to score at the basket, to make the lob pass, or kick out to an open shooter.
Of course, another similarity between the additions of both Paul and Westbrook to the Houston roster is the burning question; Can they learn to share the ball? More than likely, the answer is yes. Media outlets and talking heads spoke to how the introduction of another ball-dominant guard would do nothing but cripple the Rockets’ offense, and create confrontation between Paul and Harden.
These opinions were quickly dismissed, as the Rockets stormed their way to a league-best record, and an epic Conference Finals exit, headlined by Chris Paul’s untimely departure. Essentially, both Paul and Harden understood that their goal was to win and to do that, it may mean reducing one’s role in the offense.
Whatever level of chemistry that Paul and Harden shared, is overshadowed by the mutual respect and brother love that Westbrook and Harden harbor for one another. Growing up, since the age of 10, through till their time as teammates on the successful Oklahoma City Thunder teams of the early 2010s, right up until their eventual reunion on the Rockets.
Both guards are above the age of 30. As great as the two are, there is an unavoidable understanding that they will eventually decline. Being as cohesive as they are, they understand how imperative these coming seasons will be to their legacy, and in turn, will look to raise the sought-after Larry O’Brien Trophy.
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Russell Westbrook and the Houston Rockets make their regular-season debut against the Milwaukee Bucks and reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo on October 24 at Toyota Center.