https://www.theringer.com/nba/2020/9/2/21418137/james-harden-houston-rockets-oklahoma-city-thunder Westbrook is now filling the Paul role next to Harden. I don’t care if you love Westbrook so much that he’s your phone background image, he’s undeniably not the ideal fit for Harden. Westbrook has shot 30.5 percent from 3 throughout his career, and defenses don’t respect him as a shooter.
"It’s been well reported since last year that it became a “me or him” scenario." He means it's been falsely reported.
Westbrook was a good fit from January to March when he was playing like a Superstar. He is a bad fit now, when he is playing like crap. Funny how that works.
Leadership wise they ain't a good fit. While Russell is highly emotional, he isn't leading with low TOs and good execution in crunchtime. We know about Harden. It works because they keep it simple, Russell drives more, Harden shoots more. You can't take turns with different leading philosophies, especially with Harden's laid back philosophy. Harden needs to play with a leading big. Harden playing alongside Lebron would have been great. With Pop and Duncan. He needs that steady hand.
Fouling in the Paint makes Russell Westbrook even more nervous to even attack the basket without getting injured. The Referees are so bitter and vengeful on the Rockets. The Rockets are ineffective without those Free Throws.
Yup, WB was literally carrying us for those months when Harden was playing like absolute ass. You are only as good as your last game, it's not really WBs fault he's rusty as F and injured from having Covid, missing the first training camp, and then missing bunch of games. It's honestly just bad luck
Dwight Howard "wasn't a fit". Chris Paul was kinda a fit but then "You can't even beat your man. Just shut up and watch me." and he was shipped off. and Westbrook "ain't a fit." Poor James can't play nice. Who is a good fit with James? Oh right, those who can cover up for his defensive shortcomings and those willing to stand at the 3pt line, in the corner, watch, wait for the ball to come to you. (Hello PatBev, Luc, Trevor, Rob, PJ...) Chris Paul don't want to stand in the corner. Jimmy Butler don't want to stand in the corner. Bruno Caboclo might want to. Michael Frazier might want to. James Harden doesn't even want James Harden to stand in the corner. Parks his ass at half court without the ball. https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id...amn-turmoil-unsettling-vibe-surrounds-rockets The friction between the two manifested again during the Rockets' playoff finale. Harden and Paul had tense exchanges regarding Harden's ball dominance and Paul's desire to run set plays as the Warriors pulled off a comeback during the fourth quarter of Houston's Game 6 elimination loss, team sources said. Paul pushed for more plays and sets in the Houston offense, more screening and deception, despite Harden being in the process of putting together a historically dominant individual offensive season. According to sources, Paul was also frustrated by what he perceived as Harden's tendency to ignore unglamorous details that impact winning -- such as moving when he gives up the ball to help spacing -- and wasn't shy about expressing those concerns. Paul cherishes the chance to play without Harden on the floor. On several occasions, according to team sources, Paul barked at D'Antoni to keep Harden on the bench while he was running the second unit. Harden simultaneously would lobby -- or demand -- to check back into the game. https://theathletic.com/1032166/201...and-the-strain-on-houstons-backcourt-dynamic/ On multiple occasions Paul and Harden exchanged words, each seeking different things. Paul wanting to revert back to a more traditional offense, and Harden opting for isolation and attacking mismatches. The report cited Paul’s frustration with the offense and a push for more ball movement and off-ball actions, a la Golden State. But Paul isn’t the only one. Several members of the team expressed similar opinions throughout the year and into the offseason, including Eric Gordon’s frustration after a blowout loss in Utah, and continuing with Austin Rivers’ appearance recently on First Take. But at some point, Paul will want to contribute. Gordon will. Rivers will. The second round more or less became the Harden show, and the supporting cast became an expensive commercial. But James got his BFF, "fit" be damned. "I know what we need to do. I know exactly what we need to do." Harden stans, keep that same energy for Harden that you give Tilman for making this trade.
No, he was a bad fit throughout. But we can win a playoff series when he plays like a superstar and not when he's not.
In 2016-2017 we actually did try the formula of having Harden run the entire offense with 3 point shooters. He couldn't handle it either in the playoffs and kind of flamed out against the Spurs. I don't really know what the best fit for James Harden anymore. Maybe NO Chris Paul
It's time to discuss trading Harden while his value is enormous and trading Westbrook while he still has any value at all. Frittata has doomed us in the long term. In a couple of years we're going to enter the darkest era of Rockets basketball since 82-83.
Yeah but to make the conclusion based on one game makes no sense, especially considering how injured and rusty WB is mainly due to Covid.
