Houston Rockets: 6 takeaways from preseason opener against Shanghai

2. Mike D’Antoni will have no trouble integrating Russell Westbrook

James Harden started at point guard and picked up a triple double with 10 points, 12 rebounds and 17 assists in just 21 minutes. Does that sound like something Russell Westbrook might be able to replicate? Has he done anything like that before? I’d wager a pretty firm yes to those questions.

Harden was able to achieve his impressive triple double for three main reasons. Number one, he’s really good at basketball. Duh. Number two, they were playing the Shanghai Sharks, which is the easiest opponent he’s played since, well, last preseason when Houston played the Shanghai Sharks. Number three, he was playing Westbrook’s position in a system that is now designed to fit Westbrook’s strengths in addition to his own.

The game plan was faster paced than usual on offense, with many shots being fired up with 20 or more seconds left on the shot clock. Harden was grabbing lots of defensive rebounds and whipping the ball ahead for early shots. In the half-court, there was plenty of movement off the ball for Harden to find open players, which hasn’t been a huge weapon of Houston’s offense previously.

Westbrook will slot into the role Harden played against the Sharks perfectly as a guy who can rebound, initiate early offense, push the pace, and find shooters in the half-court.

It looks as though Mike D’Antoni has adjusted the game plan in a way which will suit both Harden and Westbrook’s strengths. We won’t know how it will look with both of them on the floor together until we see it, but the early signs look positive.

Next: No. 1