in Houston Rockets 523 Words

Could This Rocket Team Win a Championship?

This Rocket team closing (1) the 2015-2016 season and the one finishing 2014-2015 isn’t that different. There’s Patrick Beverly and Jason Terry at point. The controversial (2) James Harden at the 2 (but really point). Trevor Ariza and the greyhound, Corey Brewer, (being a game-changer one game then bricking away the next five) at the 3 (3). Donatas Motiejunas (Donuts!)/Terrence Jones/Josh Smith/Michael Beasley at the 4. Dwight Howard and Clint Capella at the 5.  Only difference would be at the 4, where the T Jones and J Smoove duo is replaced by the even funkier Donuts/ Beasley duo.  Also, for today’s win over the Thunder, KJ McDaniels got some burn as well (4).

So we can say that the team in 2015 over-performed and this one in 2016 is underachieving (5).  If we can somehow replay the last two years multiple times, would the Rockets win the chip in any of these parallel universes? In other words, is this roster closer to being a championship contender or a dreaded perennial 9th place finisher (that the Rockets were before the Harden trade)?

I would say they are not even “a piece away” from contending.  They are good when fully engaged (6), but only second-round in the playoffs good. The Ty Lawson experiment obviously failed, but that’s not what I am talking about here. A team with James Harden as the alpha needs stability and the right type of characters.  I have more respect than most for guys like Dwight, J Smoove, Beasley, and Lawson, but even I wouldn’t accuse them of being high character, grounded athletes.  Harden is ‘special’ and special people are needed to build around him. Not JaVale McGee ‘special’, but Andre Igoudala, Shane Battier special (7).

Time to blow it up, Rockets.

 

—The Loose Ball—

Up next: More rant on the importance of character

 

 

  1. To be more colorful: Limping, crawling, squirming, writhing…
  2. I guess he is no longer controversial to most. Lazy on defense, ball hog on offense, burns the entire shot clock then then toss the ball to whichever unfortunate teammate. But to me Harden is still captivating. Why? Maybe later.
  3. C’mon Daryl Morey, get an actual NBA wing to backup Harden and Ariza please.
  4. Again… Morey, get a real wing please!
    1. Footnote for footnote: A real wing- defined as an athletic human being between 6’5” and 6’10” that can shoot the NBA 3 (and make them… sometimes… unlike Brewer or McDaniels), that understands the game.
      1. Footnote for footnote for footnote: Understanding the game- defined as being able to pump fake when a defender is closing out, make the one-dribble pull-up or straight line drive with either hand, and kick to the next wide-open shooter. Simple…
  5. For various combination of reasons. 2015: Caught teams off-guard, better chemistry/flow/excitement. 2016: Freshness wearing off, distractions, Dwightmare part 3 or is it 4.
  6. which, with their set of characters, can’t be done for a full season
  7. Sorry Daryl, your days of cutting corners were over three years ago. It’s no longer about getting the most value for your assets, it’s about building around Harden. You’re stuck with him, might as well make the most out of it.

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