Fansided

Russell Westbrook took over the Rockets, and other lessons from the 2019-20 NBA season

By Brendon Kleen

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 02: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Russell Westbrook #0 of the Houston Rockets in action against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on March 02, 2020 in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Rockets 125-123. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 02: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Russell Westbrook #0 of the Houston Rockets in action against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on March 02, 2020 in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Rockets 125-123. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 31: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans and Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies stand on the court during a NBA game at Smoothie King Center on January 31, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 31: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans and Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies stand on the court during a NBA game at Smoothie King Center on January 31, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

1. Ja Morant and Zion Williamson are legit

Prior to the suspension of the season by the NBA, the league was skyrocketing toward an incredibly fun Rookie of the Year race. Zion Williamson and Ja Morant were about to take NBA fans back to 2017, when 30 or so games from Joel Embiid nearly took the prize over the monotonous above-averageness of Malcolm Brogdon and the surprising (but ultimately fake) fun of Dario Saric.

Because the shortened season robbed us of the final 15 games Williamson could have played, Morant has the award wrapped up. As Dan Devine wrote at The Ringer, the award’s not called “Rookie of the Last Month and a Half We Saw.”

Morant was excellent and fun from the jump — an early fourth-quarter duel with Kyrie Irving remains one of the most fun games of the season. The Murray State product held up on defense better than could have been expected based on his scrawniness and offensive burden. When a storyline comes up during a season solely centered around how high and fast you jump and whether that could mean you get injured at some point, it’s safe to say as an NBA player, you’ve reached a pretty high level of intrigue. Morant in the playoffs is as much of a reason as any to hope the NBA finds a way to come back.

Part of the reason that losing out on a real Rookie of the Year race is disappointing is that it was set to play out along the backdrop of the playoff race. Memphis and New Orleans figured to be the two top contenders for the eighth seed in the Western Conference, and which rookie stepped up most likely would have determined the victor. How damn fun is that?

It speaks to Williamson’s impressive takeoff that he was able to vault the Pelicans back into contention after a rough start. The team needed Williamson badly, and his addition gave them an active finisher, willing play-maker and someone who could run the floor intelligently. This year, we saw Williamson the role player — by next season the Pelicans will be centered around his talents even more.

While whatever form the NBA regular season takes this year is unlikely to include enough games for Williamson’s Pelicans to overtake Morant’s Grizzlies, their respective seasons redeemed a peculiarly top-heavy 2019 draft class and cemented them both as budding stars out West.

Rookie Review. What did the Grizzlies see from Ja Morant?. light

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