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SPORTS Saturday 13 July 2019

Analysis: Westbrook, Harden will need to change their games

By TIM REYNOLDS ery time it was in his hands.
AP Basketball Writer That can’t continue.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Ev- They’re both going to have
eryone knows that Rus- to change.
sell Westbrook and James And getting big-time stars
Harden played together to change is never easy.
before, which automati- The Rockets know this,
cally makes their reunion in of course, but in a West-
Houston seem like the right ern Conference that saw
fit. Kawhi Leonard and Paul
It won’t be that easy. George join the Los Ange-
They’ve both changed les Clippers, Anthony Davis
since those days. join the Los Angeles Lakers
But here they are, together and Kevin Durant leave
again after the Oklahoma Golden State, they had
City Thunder decided to to do something. Harden
trade Westbrook to the and Paul, for whatever rea-
Houston Rockets for Chris son, didn’t work out. Title-
Paul and another load of chasing teams like Houston
draft picks that Sam Presti is aren’t inclined to be pa-
collecting in the same way tient, so the Rockets took a
that sneakerheads hoard big swing and brought on
vintage pairs of Jordans. Westbrook.
On the surface, it’s a shiny It’s believed that this is a
move for Houston — two trade both Westbrook and
of the last three NBA MVPs, Harden wanted. When the In this Jan. 25, 2012 file photo Oklahoma City Thunder guard James Harden, left, talks with
the two guys with the most Thunder decided to deal teammate Russell Westbrook in the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City.
points over the last five George to the Clippers Associated Press
seasons, in the same back- in a move that all but an- becoming an All-Star, Hard- a basic necessity for any if this partnership doesn’t
court. nounced that Westbrook en hadn’t yet reached that team interested in winning work it could be difficult for
Per NBA rules, there will only would be gone next, it level. And they had Durant a title. Harden had them the Rockets to move him
be one ball in play, how- made sense that team- on those OKC teams, the before in Houston: It was and try to create yet an-
ever. ing up with Harden again last of which was good him and Dwight Howard other star duo for Harden.
The term they use is “ball would be an option. enough to get to the NBA for a while, him and Paul This move means the Rock-
dominant,” a fancy way That makes for a nice story: Finals and get swiftly taken for the last couple of years ets are all in — champion-
of saying certain players former teammates getting out by Miami in five games. — not to mention him, Paul ship or bust.
need the ball in their hands back together. There’s no Durant this time and Carmelo Anthony for Harden is elite but has no
more than others. West- These versions of West- to help their cause. 10 games this past season rings yet.
brook and Harden are two brook and Harden, howev- Plus, sure, they spent those before the Rockets gave Westbrook is elite but has
of those guys. Harden held er, have never been team- three years together in up on the ‘Melo experi- no rings yet.
the ball for nearly 6½ sec- mates before. Oklahoma City, but Hard- ment. They’ll be happy now to
onds — a league high — They were kids when they en’s role was so much dif- None of them for Harden be together again, they’ll
and took nearly six dribbles, spent the first three seasons ferent then. He and West- worked as planned. be all smiles at media day
on average, every time of Harden’s career togeth- brook started together in This one had better be dif- in September and they will
he touched it last season. er in Oklahoma City. They seven games over those ferent, for Houston’s sake. have a super-cool hand-
Westbrook typically held were making around $4 mil- three seasons. Westbrook only gets older shake to show off on na-
the ball for 5.1 seconds, tak- lion a year, not $4 million a Superstar duos are all the and more expensive every tional television on opening
ing nearly five dribbles ev- month. Westbrook was just rage right now in the NBA, year from here, meaning night in October.q

NFL refs

Continued from Page 17 of officiating. But Riveron ations. Pass interference, During the rule’s one-year as an act significantly hin-
stressed that league of- holding, personal fouls,” trial this season, coaches dering the opportunity to
It is an one-season experi- ficials have been discuss- Riveron said. “But we do still can challenge until make a play on a ball,
ment that could very well ing the possibility of such understand a play of this the two-minute warning and all pass plays will be
stick after an egregious reviews for several years, magnitude elevated us of each half or overtime. subject to review.
missed call in the NFC long before the non-call to the point where we are A replay official would When there are such re-
championship game in in the closing minutes of today. But again, it’s not be responsible for any re- views, Torbert and Cor-
January that cost the New regulation after Saints re- new.” views after that, but would rente said referees will be
Orleans Saints a trip to the ceiver Tommylee Lewis Referee Ron Torbert said need “clear and obvious part of a collaborative
Super Bowl. was hit by cornerback officials won’t change visual evidence” to review effort with Riveron and re-
The NFL competition Nickell Robey-Coleman their approach or what and overturn potential play officials in New York
committee in May de- in a game the Los Ange- they do on the field. He pass interference in an at- looking at the plays. The
cided against making any les Rams went on to win in said the change is just an tempt to avoid too many referees can relay why
changes to the new rule overtime. addition to the list of situ- stoppages. an official called pass in-
approved by owners. “The competition com- ations that are subject to The replay official will terference — or why they
“We understand the play mittee and ownership is review by instant replay. have only the angles on didn’t throw a flag.
that elevated and got us constantly looking at ways “We’ll still do what we’ve the television broadcast “That collaboration oc-
to where we are today,” to get better. We have always done, which is try available to overturn an curs with any reviewable
said Alberto Riveron, the discussed replay before to get every play right,” on-field decision. Pass in- play,” Torbert said. “Not
NFL’s senior vice president as it pertains to other situ- Torbert said. terference still is defined just pass interference.”q