Eastwick: What Rockets need to do to Win the Title

As teams gear up for the playoffs in Orlando, a pecking order has been established. Milwaukee and the LA teams are the truest title contenders, while Boston, Toronto and Denver will play like they have a chance, which they do. Most of the rest of the teams will fall in line behind them, as per usual in the NBA. How orthodox. Considering this is 2020, though, there is bound to be at least one team which breaks this mold, and it just so happens to be the team that has broken basically every mold. The Houston Rockets’ analytically driven roster construction and style of play goes against nearly every convention established in the league since the 1940s. They have all but eliminated the midrange game, taking 3-pointers at an unprecedented rate. They decided that a conventional, non-shooting center doesn’t fit within their offensive principle, so they no longer play with one. Now, they play 48 minutes of micro-ball, with 5 players 6’7” or under jacking 3s and attacking the basket. Led by the offensive brilliance of James Harden and Russell Westbrook, Houston has created the most unorthodox roster in the history of basketball.

And while they would certainly not be favored in any series against an LA team or Milwaukee, Houston is probably the only other team in the NBA with the upside to beat them 4 times.

This versatility on the perimeter is very valuable, particularly when you have good, versatile defenders on the roster like Covington, Tucker, Rivers, and Green. A major component of their defense is forcing turnovers, ranking 7th in the league in opponent turnover percentage and much of this comes from generating steals. Five players on the roster (Harden, Westbrook, Covington, Tucker and House) average over 1 steal per game, and three (Harden, Westbrook and Covington) average at least 1.5.

Teams score 0.84 points per post-up possession vs. the Rockets, the third-lowest mark in the league. This is because what many of Houston’s defenders lack in size, they make up for in strength. Harden, who leads the team defending 1.9 post-ups per game, allows a measly 0.69 points per post-up, ranking in the 87th percentile. And Covington and Tucker, who defend 1.5 and 1.1 post-ups per game, respectively, rank in the 84th and 56th percentile. Neither allow more than 1 point per possession.

Covington has used his combination of incredible length and defensive intellect to become a potent shot-blocker in Houston, and he is averaging an insane 2.2 blocks per game as a Rocket.

The Houston Rockets are the most unorthodox team in the most unorthodox season the league has ever seen. So it’s only fitting that they have the most unorthodox title chances of any contender. If everything goes right, they could leave Orlando with the Larry O’Brien trophy.

 

That is the plan!

 

These are the Rockets, too much hate for Harden, MDA, Morey, heck the city of Houston.

You know the media, and even some of our own fans, will have a narrative as to why Bucks should be favored.

And this is why I never understood crowning a MVP from East. The West has the best players and the best teams.

Period.

West: Lebron, Kawhi, Harden, Dame, Luka, AD, Jokic

East: Giannis

 

LOL