I was as skeptical of the Harden/Westbrook reunion as anyone, but you have to remember: It was no longer a realistic option for Houston to keep Chris Paul and try again with that group. Paul’s relationship with the Rockets was irretrievably broken after last season. And there simply wasn’t a long list of trade partners willing to take on Paul’s massive contract. Houston, in other words, had to try this great experiment. No one is predicting a huge postseason for this version of the Rockets just yet, but Coach Mike D’Antoni is making it work largely thanks to another M.V.P.-caliber season from James Harden — and with Westbrook giving a jolt to some of the Rockets’ lineups when Harden rests.