Harden, Westbrook handa na para sa Houston

HOUSTON -- Handa na sina James Harden at Russell Westbrook, parehong hinirang na NBA Most Valuable Player para sa kani-kanilang prangkisa, na magsakripisyo para sa iisang layunin.

Magtutulungan sina Harden at Westbrook na maibigay sa Rockets ang NBA championship.

“We’ve accomplished a lot of individual accolades,” wika ng 2017-18 MVP na si Harden, ang reigning two-time scoring champion na nagtala ng average na 30 points per game sa huling dalawang seasons. “Now it’s time to accomplish something together that we haven’t accomplished before.”

Naging MVP naman si Westbrook habang nag-lalaro para sa Oklahoma City Thunder.

“If Russ got it going and has one of those games that we’ve all seen before, guess what I’m going to do? Sit back and watch the show and vice versa,” ani Harden kay Westbrook.

Matinding laro naman ang ibibigay ni Westbrook para sa Houston sa darating na NBA season.

“It’s going to be scary, that’s all I can tell you,” pangako ng 2016-17 MVP na si Westbrook, may dalawang scoring titles bukod pa sa pagta-tala ng average na triple-double sa huling tatlong seasons. “It’s going to be scary -- not for us.”

Nakuha ng Rockets si Westbrook, magiging 31-anyos sa Nobyembre, noong Hulyo matapos ang trade sa Thunder para sa nine-time All-Star na si Chris Paul at ilang first-round picks at pick-swap potential.

Sina Westbrook at Harden ay naging Thunder teammates noong 2011-12 at nakapasok sa NBA Finals kasama si Kevin Durant kung saan natalo sila kina LeBron James, Dwyane Wade at Chris Bosh ng Miami.

“If we don’t win, I’ll take all the blame for it,” wika ni Harden. “That’s just what the territory comes with. That’s why you have to go out there and win.”