[USA TODAY] BA Watchability Rankings - Rockets #9

ipa · Oct 7, 2014

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...eason-preview-watchability-rankings/16411619/

James Harden and Dwight Howard remain the front men as the Rockets' rhythm section changed dramatically this offseason. Is two elite stars enough? They come in No. 9 in our NBA Watchability Rankings.

2013-14 record: 54-28, lost in first round of Western Conference playoffs

2014-15 projected record: 51-31, No. 6 seed in Western Conference playoffs

What's new? The losses (Chandler Parsons, Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik) earned headlines. But Trevor Ariza is a strong replacement for Parsons. Free agents Jeff Adrien and Joey Dorsey and first-round draft pick Clint Capela provide strength and size down low, while free agent Jason Terry and second-rounder Nick Johnson can play either guard spot. Then there's Kostas Papanikolaou, the Greek small forward who could be Houston's sixth man as a rookie.

How good will they be? If the Rockets got better this offseason, it mostly was through subtraction. There team chemistry could be improved, but they lost three of their better players. The improvements of Terrence Jones and Donatas Motiejunas at power forward will be important, but it's hard to see the Rockets right now winning the West, even as they should make the playoffs.

What's the goal? Houston has been building toward a championship. But what if Harden and Howard aren't the stars to take it there? General manager Daryl Morey has never been slow to react, and this season could be a defining one for those two and coach Kevin McHale if strides aren't made.

WHY YOU CAN'T MISS THEM

The "D" in Harden: It's become a running joke in NBA circles: Harden is the best offensive shooting guard in the league and at some point decided to stop crossing halfcourt. Harden used to be a fine defender when he was with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Now, he's one of the worst by every measure. And if he wants people to take him seriously in his claims of being the best in the world, he needs to improve.

Superman returns? Howard has slipped a bit in the past two seasons, since leaving the Orlando Magic. His offensive impact has lessened because of Harden and Kobe Bryant, but the defensive end has similarly slipped. Part of that comes from chemistry and finding a role in the Rockets' fast-paced system. But Howard has three more years on his contract, and it would be a shame to waste them in a system that can't maximize his talents. He is, after all, still "Superman."

The irritant: No opposing point guard likes going against the Rockets' Patrick Beverley. And he takes great pride in that. He's a swarming, physical defender who only ever made the NBA for that reason and sure isn't going to change his ways. He was defending when the Thunder's Russell Westbrook tore his meniscus in the 2013 playoffs. Beverley's role seems to be making up for Harden, and he does it well.

FOR THE WIN
Rockets' Patrick Beverley thinks he 'must be doing something right' if he irritates Russell Westbrook
PROJECTED STARTERS (with 2013-14 statistics)

PG: Patrick Beverley — 10.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 steals a game
SG: James Harden — 25.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.6 steals a game
SF: Trevor Ariza — 14.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.6 steals a game
PF: Terrence Jones — 12.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.3 blocks a game
C: Dwight Howard — 18.3 points, 12.2 rebounds and 1.8 blocks a game
Click to expand...

ipa · Oct 7, 2014

Damn! suposed to read (N)BA...

Clutch, can you change it? Please!

krosfyah · Oct 7, 2014

That's actually a pretty good write up.

B-Bob · Oct 7, 2014

"Don't change the title, fool! I'll tell you what's watchable."

SF3isBack!! · Oct 7, 2014

Ariza's stat line is awesome.

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[USA TODAY] BA Watchability Rankings - Rockets #9

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