Houston Rockets: 2017-18 NBA season preview

Storyline 1: Will Harden and Paul mesh?

The biggest storyline for Houston this season is also the one that will eventually decide the fate (and success) of the team this season. Bringing in Paul to join Harden in the backcourt is certainly a risk, as both players are at their best when commanding offenses with the ball in their hands.

However, it’s important to note that Harden recruited Paul to Houston, and the two really want to play together. It’s very important when a star duo joins together that both want to play together, because that often lends itself to each player sacrificing for the greater good of the team.

Paul will take some of the ball-handling duties away from Harden, allowing him to roam free off-the-ball. The Rockets have endless options offensively, as they can use both guards in a specific action or involve just one of them and use the other as a way to space the floor and keep the defense honest.

With one of the guards being on the floor at all times, Houston’s offense should never see a drop-off during a game. This way, both Harden and Paul will have sufficient time with the ball in their hands during games, yet will also expand and diversify their games by playing off the ball.

Take a look at the play that occurs at the 0:07 mark in the below video. Paul runs a pick-and-roll with Clint Capela, while shooters spread the floor around him. Paul finds an open Harden and whips a perfect pass to him for the open 3-pointer. It’s a thing of beauty:

Plays like that will be common for the Rockets this season, and they will switch up which guard is handling the ball and which one is spotting up for open threes. Because these two guards have some of the best court vision in the league, shooters will be getting open looks on a regular basis in Houston this season.