Reasons Rockets championship aspirations still very much alive

When looking at what has transpired so far, people seem to be over-reacting...but some things to consider:

Rockets:
1. Ariza is getting old and slowing down, and his shot seems to disappear in playoff games leaving him with a very limited game. Rockets defense wasn't the problem in the playoffs for the most part - so I am not sure he will be missed given he was getting burned more often
2. The Rockets didn't lose against GS because of a lack of star power but rather because they couldn't hit 3's in the 2nd half and a lack of depth (the two might be related) that can survive on the floor against all-star offensive players. Lebron would have been really really nice, but not necessary
3. There's still guys out there who can help the Rocket get the quality depth they need. We don't need all-stars, we just need the PJ Tuckers of the world.
4. Clint Capela is only going to get better
5. I think Harden is still continuing to get better
6. We haven't seen this team with everyone healthy in the playoffs - that will likely be more of a focus next year

Lakers:
1. The Lakers are still a work in progress. Even if they find another all-star they probably aren't going to be better than the Warriors.
2. They will most likely end up the 4th or 5th seed given that GS will have the better record making it impossible for them to finish above 4 and hard to see a Lebron team at 6 even in the west. That means if GS has the best record, LA and GS would be in the same bracket and likely meet in the WCSF. In other words, we may not even play them.

GS:
1. The odds are against Cousins having a significant impact next year given that he is a player whose game is built on explosiveness and that's the hardest part to get back after an achilles tear.
2. Cousins was never that great of a shooter so he's not going to stretch the floor all that much
3. Rockets proven they can beat warriors when healthy
4. Iggy is getting OLD - he will be 35 in next year's playoffs and his game is clearly in decline

 

If Golden State wants to post cousins up to shoot sub 50% 2-pt shots instead of high percentage lay-ups or efficient 3 pointers, that's not a horrible thing especially if it takes him out of getting the offensive rebound.

The biggest thing he may add to them is defensive rebounding since he is strong and immovable. But again, he may not even be able to give them that next year.

 

The same way KAT did?

 

Cousins is a skilled guy with a good ground game but his game was never really that huge of a net add to his team's success - add to that he has a horrific injury and questionable work ethic and there's no guarantee he recovers. There's a reason he is only getting paid $5.3 million this year.

 

The Rockets number one problem isn't cousins or anyone else. It's health. And the number 2 problem is depth.

If those things are not problems come the playoffs, I think they will win the championship

 

If Luc gets healthy that's another PJ Tucker added to the line-up right there and an upgrade over Ariza frankly. And if you can find another Luc who was very cheap, you have what you need.

Harden
Paul
Capela
Tucker
Luc
Green
Gordan

Now you find another guy like Luc (they are rare admittingly) and then you scoop up a KK or Carmelo on a buyout for cheap, and you have your 9 man rotation. Just don't wear them out chasing the number one seed

 

Solve problem number 1 and 2, and you solve your "number 3 problem"

 

He was starting over Ariza for a stretch and it appeared that it should have stayed that way until Luc sadly got reinjured.