In the aftermath of the frustrating end to the Houston Rockets season, The Athletic reported on Thursday there was “a verbal back-and-forth” between James Harden and Chris Paul about ball distribution after their Game 6 loss to the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Semifinals.
The Athletic’s report also stated this isn’t the first time Paul has spoken up about similar issues, having “had spirited discussions with Mike D’Antoni throughout the season about incorporating more movement within the offense.”
In a sit-down with Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Rockets head coach explained the Game 6 conversation was not the issue it was initially thought to be:
Nah, nah. I don’t – I think that’s … You know, we’ve always, we go back and forth about how to play the best that we can play. I think for the most part – and anytime, sometimes it’s too much of this and too little of that, you know? So I think that’s normal. I think that’s just, that’s just you guys being a little bit eager to print something that wasn’t a problem.
But, CP3 definitely has something to be upset about.
Paul joined the Rockets to win an NBA championship, and the team has yet to even advance to the NBA finals. Since joining the team, the 34-year-old point guard has made sacrifices that include being the secondary ballhandler behind Harden.
Paul used to drop at least 20 points and 10 rebounds per game regularly, but he averaged just 15.6 points and 8.2 assists this season.
