'Six Seconds or Less': Rockets Ready for Increased Tempo With Russell Westbrook

The Rockets finished with the NBA's No. 27 pace last season, slowing their tempo to a glacial rate as James Harden unleashed the greatest isolation scoring season of all-time. But with Russell Westbrook now manning the point guard position, a major change is underway in Houston. Not only will the Rockets rise from the bottom third in pace this season, they could be one of the NBA's fastest teams. As head coach Mike D'Antoni told the media on Friday, "six seconds or less, baby."

D'Antoni may have been a touch facetious comparing Houston to his speedy Suns teams of the mid-2000s, but his point stands. The Rockets will be ready to run alongside Westbrook in 2019-20.

"Every teams has a point guard that you play at his pace," D'Antoni said at the Toyota Center. "We were really good with Chris and James getting to the half court and figuring things out. ...This is a whole different beast. With Russell, if you can play at that pace and it's a natural pace, I like it better."

Houston's performance in Thursday's loss to the Bucks backs up D'Antoni's rhetoric. The Rockets posted a 109 pace on Thursday–7th in the NBA–and their 27 fast break opportunities matched last season's high, per ESPN's Tim MacMahon. Westbrook was the catalyst, pushing the pace both off Milwaukee makes and after each of his 16 rebounds. Houston was full-speed ahead whenever Westbrook was on the floor

Even Harden took part in the increased tempo on Thursday. He two-time scoring champion finished with a 106.6 pace in Houston's opener, a marked jump from last year's 98.06 rate. Harden slowed next to the methodical Chris Paul over the past two seasons. Westbrook could inject some speed into Harden's attack.

"Russell boosts our energy," Harden told the media on Friday. "When he has the ball I'm able to run the lanes and hopefully get transition buckets and opportunities and stuff like that."

The Rockets' emphasis on an increased pace could be a marked benefit to their shooters on the wing. Both P.J. Tucker and Eric Gordon earned eight "wide-open" threes on Thursday, per NBA data, feasting from the corner as Westbrook flew down the court in transition.

Gordon shot just 3-12 from three on Thursday, but don't let the results obscure the process. Westbrook's transition dominance consistently drew help from the perimeter, allowing Westbrook to ping the ball to open shooters at will. The directive for Houston's wings is simple with Westbrook in the game: sprint to the open spot and wait for your opportunity.

"We all know how [Westbrook] plays, when he attacks it draws a lot of attention," Tucker said on Friday. "Everybody knows to get to their spots and he knows where everybody is. ... His pace is on a whole other level."

Perhaps Houston will tap the breaks as the season goes on, potentially reverting to their old ways when Westbrook sits. But the Rockets' offseason addition appears to have already made a major impact, reforming Houston's attack in just one game. Their breakneck pace to kick off the season won't be an aberration.