Is it time to give up?

Was pairing James Harden with Russell Westbrook a bad idea?

Zach Allen
Jan 30, 2020, 6:45 am


James Harden and Russell Westbrook have not been on the same page at all this season. They have struggled to be efficient. Is it time for something new?

When the season began, Harden looked unstoppable on the court. Harden was able to average up close to 40 points per game earlier this season. Westbrook on the other hand, was still trying to figure things out. At times, he looked skittish on the basketball court with Harden. Westbrook found it real hard to find his own shot in the beginning of the season. Even though Westbrook was averaging 21.5 points per game, he was still forcing shoots and looked like a bystander. It almost felt like Westbrook was a weak link to Harden...

Recently, things have reversed between the two. Harden has not played his best basketball since January 3rd against the Philadelphia 76ers. He is also shooting 35% from the field in January. Harden is even taking fewer shots this month. Is he losing confidence in his shot? Suddenly, Westbrook has turned things around for the month of January. He is playing at better pace than Harden is right now. Westbrook is shooting the ball at 52.8% from the field this month; which is great. The Rockets have also been relying on Westbrook instead of Harden late in games this month.

How come these two are not on the same page? This team has struggled because of that. When Harden and Westbrook sat out Monday night against the Utah Jazz, the whole entire Rocket's team played great basketball. Eric Gordon was able to go off for a career high 50 points. Danuel House and Austin Rivers both went off for 21 points each as well that night. Was Harden and Westbrook the problem?

Watching this team struggle against the Portland Trail Blazers Wednesday night is questionable. Westbrook was able to have a good night by shooting 55% from the field and scoring 31 points. While Harden was struggling from the field by shooting 27% and scoring 18 points Wednesday night.

Honestly, it feels like the Rockets are struggling with these two on the same floor. Harden and Westbrook cannot even play the correct way on the court. Should one of them go so the team can succeed? The trade deadline is approaching for Daryl Morey.

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Houston can win series on Sunday

Timely hitting helps Astros edge out D-backs to even series

Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images

The Astros had two losses over the last 24 hours; one a game against the Diamondbacks in the series opener on Friday night, the other the news that their recovering ace, Justin Verlander, announced Saturday afternoon that he is opting to undergo Tommy John surgery. The decision and surgery will likely sideline Verlander through 2021 when his current contract with Houston ends.

With that, the Astros headwinds continued to increase, meaning a win to even the series with Arizona on Saturday would be a much-needed pick-me-up. Here's how they did:

Final Score: Astros 3, Diamondbacks 2.

Record: 26-26, second in the AL West.

Winning pitcher: Enoli Paredes (3-2, 2.84 ERA).

Losing pitcher: Luke Weaver (1-8, 6.51 ERA).

D-backs score two on Javier who is pulled early

Kole Calhoun, who drove in four runs, including a home run in Friday's game, would start the scoring on Saturday with a solo home run off of Cristian Javier in the top of the second, giving Arizona an early 1-0 lead. Javier allowed another run in the top of the third, giving up a leadoff single that would move to third on a groundout then score on a sac fly, doubling the lead to 2-0.

Javier finished the third and tossed a 1-2-3 fourth, but whether it be due to a pre-determined pitch count or other situation, he would not go any further, ending his night there on just 77 pitches. His final line: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 1 HR, 77 P.

Astros grab a lead in the sixth

The Astros were able to cut the lead in half in the bottom of the third, getting a leadoff single by Josh Reddick, who would move to third after a walk and fielder's choice before scoring on an RBI-groundout by Jose Altuve, making it 2-1. Enoli Paredes was first out of Houston's bullpen, taking over for Javier in the top of the fifth and retiring six straight batters for two perfect frames.

Houston would get to Luke Weaver in the bottom of the sixth, getting a leadoff single by George Springer, who would score from first on an RBI-double by Altuve to tie the game. Altuve would come around as the go-ahead run later in the inning on an RBI-single by Kyle Tucker, knocking Weaver out of the game as the Astros took their first lead of the game, 3-2.

Houston evens the series and moves back up to .500

Josh James was the next reliever for Houston in the top of the seventh, and despite getting into a jam by issuing a one-out walk and hitting the next batter, he was able to get out of it. It was thanks to a great play by Michael Brantley, who started a double play by catching a lineout and throwing a runner out at second to end the inning.

Brooks Raley had the eighth and erased a one-out walk by retiring the next two batters to maintain the one-run lead. After a scoreless bottom of the eighth, the Astros turned to closer Ryan Pressly to get another save and finish the one-run game. Pressly would do so, as Houston would move back up to .500 and even the series 1-1 heading into the rubber game on Sunday.

Up Next: The finale of this series between Houston and Arizona, and Houston's last regular-season home game of 2020, will get underway at 1:10 PM Central on Sunday. Madison Bumgarner (0-4, 8.53) ERA will be on the mound for the D-backs, while Jose Urquidy (1-1, 2.70 ERA) will start for the Astros.

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