HardenWestbrook pairing tantalizing but doomed

It has never happened in the NBA’s 72year history, nor will it ever come to pass, but it will be fun watching the Houston Rockets try to win an NBA title with a backcourt constructed on greed.

The experienced fan doesn’t need numbers to tell the truth about Russell Westbrook, stunningly traded to Houston on Thursday, or new teammate James Harden. But try this: In the advanced stat known as “usage,” determining the percentage of a team’s offense when a certain player shoots, turns the ball over or goes to the freethrow line, Westbrook owns the singleseason record of 41.7 (201617) and Harden ranks second (40.5 last season). They are officially the two most balldominant guards the league has ever seen.

And this is supposed to work?

We have the Warriors to thank for showing us the way. Their three championships were built around guards who lived to pass, cut, screen, and ultimately shoot the lights out. There was (and will continue to be) a poetic balance to their halfcourt sets, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson lining up with the alltime greats of generosity, economy and performance.

It sounds so simple — move the damn ball, don’t stand around — but it’s maddeningly difficult to achieve. Especially when human nature barges

into the picture.

Make no mistake, the WestbrookHarden pairing will be a fabulous show at the start, thanks to the pure desire within both men to make it work. Westbrook wanted this trade, Harden welcomed it, and they’ll try their best to craft the kind of fluid offense that wins championships. They’ll be the talk of the NBA at the AllStar break, a heartwarming tale of sacrifice and respect. Remember, though, what happened with Harden and Chris Paul. They overwhelmed an initial wave of skepticism and gave the Warriors a mighty run, only to succumb to basic NBA truths, and by the middle of this past season, true colors surfaced. Paul lived up to his history of irritating teammates with smartestguyintheroom bullying. Harden didn’t want anyone telling him how to run an offense. According to reports, Paul had to be traded, to get out of Harden’s way — and so it was done, Paul shipped off to Oklahoma City with a package of draft picks. Westbrook and Harden may never become enemies. They go back a long way, nearly pulling off an OKC championship — with a lot of help from Kevin Durant — in 2012 before losing to LeBron James’ Miami Heat in the Finals. But so much has changed since then.

The Rockets have been built around Harden’s oneonone genius, and he’s so clever with the ball, he must remain the point guard. That means a shootingguard assignment for Westbrook, who was never remotely effective without the ball in OKC. (“Useless,” wrote ESPN’s Zach Lowe. “He mostly chills well beyond the 3point line, hands on knees.”)

Let’s not forget the possibilities here. Both men are bigtime rebounders, creating wondrous options on the fast break. They are the game’s two most explosive drivetothebasket guards, and two of the best ever. Both have excellent passing skills, when moved to distribute. They share a thirst for that first NBA title, and sometimes that raw hunger can put teams over the top.

Still, it all comes back to Westbrook’s shooting — or lack of it. He’s at his best in the midrange region, cherishing his “cotton shot” from the elbows, and the Rockets much prefer the longdistance attack. He’ll be under pressure to deliver 3point shots, and with his rigid, mechanical delivery, he’s never been reliable from deep. Damning evidence: Basketballreference.com lists the 137 players in history who have taken at least 2,500 career 3pointers. Curry ranks first at 43.6 percent, Thompson fourth at 41.9. Westbrook is 137th, dead last, at 30.8.

One more stat to consider, because it’s just so utterly ridiculous: During one stretch last season, Harden scored 263 consecutive points without the benefit of an assist.

Run down the list of NBA champions and you won’t find anything resembling WestbrookHarden. The Knicks won the 1973 title because Earl “The Pearl” Monroe deferred to the great Walt Frazier, retaining his pure showmanship but blending seamlessly into the team concept. There was clear delineation on the

’72 Lakers — Gail Goodrich was strictly a shooter while

Jerry West ran the point and took the biggest shots. Isiah

Thomas teamed with the esteemed Joe Dumars on the heralded Detroit teams, but there was never a doubt about who was in charge.

On top of it all, it’s an entirely new day in the Western Conference. At least six teams — not counting the Warriors — have designs on the Finals. New Orleans, Memphis and Sacramento are on the rise. Perhaps the Rockets should be commended for this wild, goforbroke gamble, pairing two of the alltime greats, but a happy ending seems quite unlikely. If they ever build a statue of Harden outside the Rockets’ arena, there might be another one depicting Westbrook with his arms folded.