Harden and Westbrook won’t win a title due to ‘ball dominance’ — Shannon Sharpe | NBA | UNDISPUTED
Published -
- July 22, 2019
- 5:10 pm
Shannon Sharpe thinks ‘ball dominance’ is the reason James Harden and Russell Westbrook won’t win a title for the Houston Rockets next season.
What is the importance of having multiple players who can create their own offense in today’s NBA, according to Sharpe?
Harden and Westbrook won’t win a title due to ‘ball dominance’ — Shannon Sharpe | NBA | UNDISPUTED
The Houston Rockets have had an interesting offseason with numerous high-profile moves including trading away 2017 NBA MVP Russell Westbrook to the Washington Wizards for fellow All-Star guard John Wall. Despite the move, former NFL player Shannon Sharpe believes that the Rockets will still struggle to win a title due to the ball-dominant playing style of their remaining star, James Harden.
During a recent episode of the popular sports talk show, “Undisputed,” Sharpe explained his reasoning behind why the Rockets are unlikely to achieve championship success with their current roster. He pointed out that both Harden and Westbrook are accustomed to having the ball in their hands for the majority of the game, with both ranking within the top five players in usage rate over the past two seasons.
Sharpe argued that this style of play is not conducive to a winning team, as it limits the involvement and impact of other players on the court. He noted that in order to win a title in today’s NBA, teams need to have multiple players who can create their own offense and contribute to the game in other ways besides scoring.
Sharpe’s opinion is not without merit, as recent championship teams such as the Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Lakers have had a balanced approach to their offense, with multiple players capable of making big plays when necessary. Even the Golden State Warriors during their dominant run had a team-oriented approach that relied on sharing the ball and playing off each other’s strengths.
Despite Harden’s undeniable talent as a scorer and playmaker, there are valid concerns about the long-term success of a team that revolves solely around him. In fact, the Rockets have already tried and failed to win a title with this approach, falling short in the playoffs year after year despite Harden’s individual accolades.
It remains to be seen whether the Rockets can adjust their playing style and achieve success with their new roster, but it is clear that a ball-dominant approach is not the key to winning a championship in today’s NBA. Sharpe’s analysis may be a hard pill to swallow for fans of the Rockets, but it is a reminder that true success in basketball requires a team effort and a willingness to embrace a more balanced style of play.
