When the Houston Rockets acquired Russell Westbrook, skeptics immediately criticized his fit alongside James Harden. Many analysts and experts have discussed how the Harden and Westbrook can work once again now that they have reunited in Houston.
Former NBA head coach Earl Watson spoke on the Maybe I'm Crazy podcast with Joy Taylor and suggested that Westbrook needs to be a great three-point shooter in order to flourish in Houston's system:
“He doesn't have to be a great three-point shooter. He has to be a great corner three-point shooter. If he becomes a great corner three-point shooter like P.J. Tucker has become, then you have a serious problem.”
.@Earl_Watson explains how Westbrook helps Houston offensively 🏀
“He’s going to beat you to the paint. And that’s where you’re going to get dunks, lobs, free throws, corner threes. He doesn’t have to be a great 3-point shooter, he has to be a great corner 3-point shooter.” pic.twitter.com/tuAiVgYyl9
— Maybe I'm Crazy with Joy Taylor (@maybeimcrazypod) August 8, 2019
Of Westbrook's 411 hoists from three-point country, only 12.4 percent* came from the corners. He did, however, knock down a respectable 37.2 percent* of his corner threes, a far cry from his season-long percentage of 29 percent (his worst three-point percentage since his sophomore season).
Westbrook has always been a subpar shooter from beyond the arc. Perhaps playing off the ball more and getting more spot up opportunities could help him improve as a shooter, especially playing along an equally dynamic scorer like his buddy, James Harden.
Westbrook actually already began playing off the ball more in 2018-19, when he conceded primary scoring duties to Paul George. In fact, Westbrook actually had 61.3 percent of his three-pointers from assists last season – the most since his sophomore campaign.
If Westbrook can get more open looks from the corner and maintain his solid percentage from there, then Houston should become a major problem in the Western Conference next season. Surely, James Harden will always try to look for his buddy roaming around the corner.
*Percentages computed from stats.NBA.com
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