There is actually a volume section called the Usopp gallery which are fanarts handpicked by Oda himself. He even takes the time to comment on everyone of them which is awesome.
Clearly, Oda ships Luffy x Nami really hard. You will often find fanarts of both of them. Oda would say thing things "Yes, Nami take your captain to the end of the sea ". When he picks Sanji x Nami he up and said " Sanji was probably dreaming or his imagination". People like to masquerade the truth with a joke.
https://fr-fr.facebook.com/LuffyxNa...son-forums-who-found-these-p/695885553919710/
What does it have to do with Zoro and Tashigi ?
From volume 11, Zotash are featured often. A lot of them are really inspired side by side or on opposite ends like you said. He also likes to pick drawings with Kuina and Tashigi.
https://onepiece.fandom.com/wiki/Usopp_Gallery_Pirates?file=UGP_Volume_011a.png
As a matter of fact, I noticed Oda picked a lot of Tashigi fanarts which could imply that he really likes her character. TBF, It was also the time when the series did not have millions of characters. Ironically, Japanese fans really seem to like Tashigi much more than the western community (Avoid Twitter).
I really want these Usopp gallery fanarts to get translated because we get to know what Oda's mindset outside of interviews.