Houston Rockets: 4 reasons why the Harden/Westbrook pairing will work

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CHARLOTTE, NC – FEBRUARY 17: James Harden #13 of Team LeBron and Russell Westbrook #0 of Team Giannis are seen before the game during the 2019 NBA All-Star Game on February 17, 2019 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) /

They actually want to play together

One of the most important reasons is because Westbrook and Harden are friends and actually want to play together. They want to win together and will certainly do whatever they can to make it work because their relationship goes beyond just basketball.

According to Michael Lee of the Athletic, Westbrook and Harden both started playing basketball together at the same Boys and Girls Club in Los Angeles. There is always a different level of energy and excitement when you’re playing on the same team as one of your best friends, a la LeBron James and Dwyane Wade during their Miami Heat days.

The Rockets have added a couple more players. Next

I’m not really sure why everyone is unsure of whether this pairing will be effective because Westbrook can create on his own, create for others AND can deflect to other star players as he did with Paul George recently. And he would surely do that with someone he has known long before playing in the NBA.