D'Antoni plans to play Harden, Paul together for 18 minutes per game

As much of a blockbuster addition Chris Paul was to the Houston Rockets, it hasn't come without concerns. Introducing one of the best point guards in NBA history to a team anchored by a star who led the league in assists last year requires new ground rules, even before considering James Harden and Paul are both notoriously headstrong.

The ball-dominant bigwigs are close friends, though, and if limited preseason action is any indication, the pair should play off each other well. With the regular season tipping off Thursday against the Golden State Warriors, coach Mike D'Antoni has his minutes template set.

The goal is for Harden to log around 34 minutes a night, with Paul at 32-33, according to ESPN's Jackie MacMullan.

"I will have a Hall of Fame point guard on the floor at all times, I promise you that," D'Antoni said.

The idea is for Paul to be one of the earliest substitutions, taking a break after five minutes. Harden will sit at the back end of the first quarter, with the ultimate goal to play the pair together about 18 minutes per game - including, obviously, closing time.

Still, D'Antoni knows emotions will run high in the heat of battle.

"I already know there will be times and James will be saying, 'This is bullshit, I gotta be in there,'" D'Antoni told MacMullan. "And I'm gonna say, 'I don't know what to tell you. We talked about this.'"

The minutes they share have been a point of concern among some, though, given both players' desire to have the ball in their hands. However, their two-man game is as good as anyone's, and both should find themselves open for more catch-and-shoot opportunities.

There's also the positive impact Paul can have on Harden. When Harden's usage rate increased by 10 percent, his defensive effectiveness declined by 12 percent, according to ESPN Stats & Info.