Houston Rockets put faith in a new superstar duo

Storyline 1: How will the tandem work?

While this question was asked far too much over the summer, it bears repeating. It’s not constructive to say, “Russell Westbrook can’t shoot, therefore it won’t work,” but there are concerns.

Both James Harden and Westbrook have had historically high usage rates over the last few seasons. It played a huge part in the two of them winning two of the last three Most Valuable Player awards. But is that scripture?

They don’t need to each use 40 percent of the team’s possessions when they share the floor. The heavy isolation game that’s gone on has worked for both of them out of necessity, but it by no means has to be replicated for 48 minutes.

When they’re staggered, sure. Go full steam ahead. The best players often reach their peaks when maximizing aggressiveness. When together, they can find a way to coexist.

Get Westbrook engaged as a cutter. Let Harden, one of the best shooters in the game, do a little spotting up here and there. Let them figure it out; they want this to work.

Harden and Chris Paul churned out a plus-6.8 net rating when on the court together last year and plus-13.7 the season before. And they didn’t even like each other.

Will Westbrook take some really questionable shots at times? Yes, because that’s his ethos. Allowing him to roam free in the non-Harden minutes will look frustrating, but will also work.

That synergy will make Westbrook’s integration much easier. It could not matter less who’s the “1” or the “2,” no matter what people tell you. These are two superstars who will find ways to make it work.