The Houston Rockets are conducting a mini-camp this week in Los Angeles at the campus of UCLA.
The purpose of the mini-camp is for the players to get accustomed to one another. Rockets stars James Harden and Russell Westbrook are in attendance:
Clemons has really impressed the #Rockets coaching staff from Summer League, to workouts in Houston last week, to now in LA. He is working to improve out of the pick-and-roll, especially as a passer and facilitator. He’s proving that he belongs though. pic.twitter.com/99Z27ZFOmj
— Alykhan Bijani (@Rockets_Insider) August 13, 2019
James Harden and Chris Clemons are knocking threes down from way outside today (via @dmorey / Instagram) #Rockets pic.twitter.com/4FP7HUvraT
— Alykhan Bijani (@Rockets_Insider) August 13, 2019
Russell Westbrook practicing his 3s at UCLA (via @dmorey's Instagram). pic.twitter.com/O6olw0f3Ux
— Salman Ali (@SalmanAliNBA) August 12, 2019
Westbrook is going to have to improve his 3-point shooting next season since he's going to be playing off-the-ball from time to time. The former MVP shot just 29.0 percent from beyond the arc last season, but as you can see, the new Rockets point guard is putting in the time in the gym to get better.
The Rockets are the only team in the NBA right now with two MVPs on the roster. Houston is hoping Westbrook and Harden can recreate what Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry did with the Golden State Warriors. KD and Steph went to three straight Finals together and won two rings.
Westbrook has averaged a triple-double three seasons in a row, while Harden has led the league in scoring the past two seasons. The Rockets have surrounded the two superstars with good shooters in Eric Gordon, Austin Rivers, PJ Tucker, Gerald Green and Danuel House.
Houston also signed former Defensive Player of the Year Tyson Chandler this summer. He will back up Clint Capela at the center spot.