The Western Conference was a juggernaut to begin with and now it’s getting even tougher. The Los Angeles Lakers teamed up Anthony Davis and LeBron James, the Los Angeles Clippers acquired Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, and teams like the Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz promise to be competitive teams.
The Houston Rockets could not stand by and not make a move in order to remain a contender in the West. On Thursday night, they made that move by acquiring Russell Westbrook from the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Chris Paul and loads of picks.
It’s a move that reunites Westbrook and Harden together from their Oklahoma City days and, more importantly, keeps their spot in the pecking order in the West title race.
The 2017 NBA MVP has averaged a triple-double in three straight seasons as he has put up some eye-popping statistical numbers. He averaged 22.9 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 10.7 assists in 2018-19 and the Rockets hope that now that he’s teamed up with Harden, more pressure will be taken off his shoulders.
Westbrook and Harden teamed up together to help lead the Thunder to the NBA Finals in 2012 and now they will need to conjure up the same magic in Houston.
