This version of Westbrook is a perfect …

This version of Westbrook is a perfect fulfillment of D’Antoni’s either-or vision. Now that he understands what Houston’s offense will allow, Westbrook is both getting to the rim and finishing with more success. The Rockets are obsessed with spacing—so much so that they traded away their starting center and a first-round pick for a floor-stretching forward, thereby committing to a life undersized. It’s a gambit, but what makes the risk worthwhile is the way it amplifies Houston’s two stars. Westbrook’s evolution served almost as a proof of concept. If he would be doing most of his work inside, it made sense to clear some of the traffic from his commute. Swapping out Clint Capela for Robert Covington accomplished that, while making it impossible for defenses to match up with Houston—and Westbrook in particular—in any conventional manner.