Houston Rockets squander double-digit lead late in season opener; 3 takeaways
3. Russell Westbrook is ready to go
Despite showing signs of sluggishness during the preseason, Russell Westbrook returned to the hardwood in a full-fledged attack mode he had yet to display in Houston’s dress rehearsals.
In addition to showing why he is one of the game’s elite point guards, as the man who arrived to the gym nearly two hours prior to opening tip would provide Houston Rockets fans with a solid showing in his debut.
Westbrook spent his night supplying the offense with an added wrinkle that has not been witnessed across the Lone Star State in quite some time.
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"“He was rolling,” D’Antoni said per Salman Ali of ESPN 97.5 Houston when asked to assess The Brodie’s opening night. “When the lights turn on, he’s got that competitive spirit and his athleticism kicks in. He’s like a rocket out there, no pun intended.”"
On a night when the Rockets would go toe-to-toe against the league’s best defensive team last season, Westbrook utilized his green-light speed to help Houston generate quality opportunities out in transition.
He also incorporated his rebounding prowess to reward his new cast mates in the process, as the 2017 MVP recipient would furnish instant aid — in the wake of James Harden’s 2-for-13 shooting performance — that allowed the Rockets to fully dictate the flow of play for most of the night.
"“Everybody saw it tonight,” Harden told reporters with front row access on Thursday night. “He’s a different type of breed on that court … we’re not going to get too down.”"
Although many die-hard hoops fans will continue to closely monitor the Westbrook and Harden pairing all season long, one could already pose the argument that the insertion of No. 0 has paid key dividends in H-Town.
Especially should he knock down shots at an efficient rate within Mike D’Antoni’s system, as the roadrunner — who never permitted the Thunder to finish lower than eighth in fast-break points — has already granted the Rockets with a diversified way to attack opposing defenses in his tenure thus far.
Houston — whcih averaged just 12 fast-break points per game last season — managed to score 27 in their season opener against Milwaukee. That came after being held to just four points in their two interconference showdowns last year.
Should this trend continue then this could bode to be a problem for teams across the league, as Westbrook appears to be ready to go for the next 81 games and counting.