Start Em/Sit Em: Harden/Westbrook & the Next Evolution of the Modern PF - 11/06/23

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What Stood Out to Me Last Night (11/05/23)

1. Scottie Barnes is on the path to that third-year stardom. He put up 30 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks, and 3 steals in a huge comeback win against the Spurs on the road. He took charge in the fourth quarter, dominating the offensive rebounds, overpowering Jeremy Sochan, displaying explosiveness around the rim, and sealing an improbable overtime with a clutch step-back three-pointer.

2. Cleveland beat the Warriors 115-104. The Cavs seems to have lot of the ingredients for success in place. They have shooting, rebounding, interior defense, go-to scorers, play-makers, etc. They held the Warriors to a 39% shooting as a team, and got good production across the board.

Who I’m Watching for Tonight (11/06/23)

This space is all about James Harden's debut with the Clippers.

Harden made a statement, saying, "I'm not a system player; I am a system." Surprisingly, I find myself seeing what Harden means here. Despite his postseason struggles, he remains a brilliant decision-maker and the best playmaker on the Clippers' roster.

Let's give credit to Westbrook too- he is averaging 15 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2.2 steals early in the season. He's also shooting over 50% from the field and 39% from beyond the arc. He’s playing great - however, I need to see him shoot this way more consistently before I’m convinced he won’t regress back to his mean he’s displayed all career.

Harden and Westbrook previously played together in Houston, with some success, but they were eliminated in the second round of the 2020 playoffs by the Lakers. Westbrook was challenged to shoot from the perimeter, Harden faced double and triple teams, and the Rockets couldn’t match up. This situation could echo that one, but both Harden and Westbrook are not in their 2020 forms, making teams more willing to let Harden go one-on-one as he's not the 36 PPG scorer he was in Houston.

The significant difference now is Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, and how they fit into "the system."

I'm eager to see how they all mesh.

Harden and Westbrook are among the least effective off-ball guards in the league, both being ball-dominant players with limited spot-up shooting skills. Westbrook might need to eventually transition to a bench role, similar to CP3's role with the Warriors, albeit with more volatility.

Westbrook thrives when his skills aren't redundant with the team's needs. This was evident with Durant, who didn't require ball dominance and could play as a quick-hitting scorer. Westbrook worked well with the Thunder even after Durant left, as he remained the primary playmaker. However, his time in Houston required him to adapt his game, which he did effectively, but not consistently. In Washington, he excelled because he was once again the best playmaker. Beal, Durant, PG, and others worked with Westbrook because they didn't need to run the team's offense.

Now, when Westbrook has been alongside Harden and LeBron, two superior decision-makers and offensive leaders, this has exposed Westbrook's shooting limitations. If you keep the ball in Westbrook's hands, you have to figure out what to do with Harden, who is notably inactive without the ball in his hands on offense. It seems counterproductive to place the ball in Westbrook's hands, a role that Harden excels in and makes him less effective.

We're now in uncharted territory:

1. Harden needs to become a threat off the ball.

2. Westbrook must keep defenses honest by making nearly 2 threes per game at a 38% clip.

Both players have attempted these adjustments in their careers with limited success. Managing PG and Kawhi, who demand attention as wing scorers and should be the go-to options in clutch moments, adds another layer of complexity. This will be a fascinating watch.

Random NBA Thought

Watching the Cavs/Warriors game, the stark contrast in playing styles between these teams caught my attention. The Warriors opt for a smaller lineup with Steph and CP3 in the backcourt, omitting Looney, and featuring Wiggins, Draymond, and Kuminga. Meanwhile, the Cavs start with two legitimate big men in Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.

Also, observing Wemby's play has prompted me to reconsider the traditional definition of a power forward (PF) in the NBA. The Spurs also appear to run a two-center lineup currently.

In the past, PFs were known as hard-working players who could engage in physical battles in the paint defensively and extend their shooting range to the mid-range area. As the years progressed, the role expanded to include big men who could shoot threes. Subsequently, it became essential for a team's PF to be capable of switching onto perimeter players, aligning with the NBA's shift toward ball-dominant guard play featuring high screen and roll actions.

What’s surprised me despite Wemby’s height, he doesn't congest the paint because he operates as a perimeter offensive player who happens to stand at 7'4". It's a reversal of the traditional roles.

As historical patterns tend to resurface, it wouldn't surprise me if the NBA eventually reverts to a two-big model. However, the shift would be toward 7-foot perimeter defenders who rarely venture into the paint—a new take on the "twin towers" concept.