New champion among 10 bold predictions for 2019-20 NBA season
4. James Harden and Russell Westbrook will flourish in Houston
This year’s free agency bonanza created a few notable duos in the process. You have LeBron James and Anthony Davis looking to help the Los Angeles Lakers return to their former glory.
Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are hoping to transform the LA Clippers into a championship contending team as well. How about the fact that Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are now members of the Brooklyn Nets? Few people could say that any of these scenarios were a given.
However, there is one other duo that deserves some airtime as well. The pair that I’m referring to is none other than James Harden and Russell Westbrook.
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On paper, it doesn’t seem like this match would be a good fit, being that both are ball-dominant players, which can be a recipe for disaster.
Furthermore, while the Rockets have led the league in 3-point shots made and attempted over the past three seasons, Westbrook isn’t exactly an elite shooter from beyond the arc. In fact, he has converted just 30.8 percent of his attempts from 3-point range during his 11-year NBA career.
On the flip side of the narrative, there are a few positive takeaways from this pairing. For starters, they both played on the Oklahoma City Thunder squad that went to the NBA Finals back in 2011-12, meaning they have a good idea of where the other person can be most effective on the court.
Secondly, the Rockets offer a roster of multiple players who can knock it down from deep. Harden, P.J. Tucker and Eric Gordon shot better than 36 percent from beyond the arc last season. With that in mind, Westbrook will have more room to operate as opposing teams will not be able to focus solely on him without consequences.
Lastly, Westbrook is one of the best rebounding guards in the league and he knows how to get up the court in a hurry, which will be a good fit for Mike D’Antoni’s up-tempo offense.
Will there be an adjustment period? Of course. As the season progresses, though, Harden and Westbrook will be one of the most formidable duos in the league.