If Harden stays, the Rockets team is a championship contender

I believe and I’m sure Harden believes this current Rocket team can be very competitive.

But let’s recognize some imbalance in the team:

1) top heavy in the PG/SG department.

2) Tate/House/Nwaba have potential to be good in this system as part facilitators part slashers (once they learn the system)

3) need for PF like player (I’m looking at PJ Tucker trade at the deadline for PJ Washington (Hornets) or
Nicolo Melli (Pels). Rockets will still be over the LT; but a further trade of Clemons or another for draft pick or Euro-
stash player would get us under the LT.


Nice if we could trade Eric Gordon at the deadline; but I’m not holding my breath.

Hard to improve when you only have chewing gum and paper clips to work with.

 

I can see that, but I wouldn’t call that “good”...more like improved and no longer complete trash

 

They are a good team and will be the 8th seed as well, they bear Denver twice and beaten the Suns,,,,,and they have a All-Star!!

 

I agree with you. The Kings are the type of team that can spring an upset on a contender if the contender takes them lightly or doesn’t bring the requisite energy. They aren’t a threat to do playoff damage or anything like that.

They beat the Nuggets twice because as good as Porter is offensively, starting him, Murray and Jokic together makes them a very poor defensive team.

 

I think we are still a major contributor away, and that's assuming Gordon Wall and Cousins stay healthy and play at a high level. Just saying.

The reality is that Tucker and Gordon are declining players with health issues, and we really don't fully know what we are going to get from Wall and Cousins, although things certainly look promising. Hey, i like this team better than last year's team, but i'm realistic about where we are. And the reality is, especially with the need to be deep to compensate for injuries, we need another significant piece to be a true contender.

 

I was very positive on the roster before the season

still haven’t seen much cohesiveness because of all the issues.

but I feel pretty safe saying this team is going to have defensive issues.

I’m not saying I want to trade Harden or even if so want to trade him for Siakim... but a guy like Siakim would be perfect at the 4.

even a junior version of that would be nice. Not sure what’s available or what we can get ... or if it even makes sense to try until you’ve got Hardens commitment (as an upgrade would require trading one of those picks)

 

Harden belongs to the Sixers. Just let it happen.

 

Yeah, I agree it's too early to call them a good team, but I think it's safe to say that they're not a trash team. They're not the Washington team with Westbrook playing, so a win against them without Harden is still a good sign to me.

 

a good SF and a backup PG away.

 

It depends on how we’re defining championship contender but this team probably has somewhat comparable championship odds as the teams to which Harden wants to get traded after what those teams would realistically have to give up (ie Milwaukee doesn’t even count since there’s no way they could make a trade for Harden even if Giannis wanted it, which he supposedly doesn’t).

The East would be easier to get to the finals though.

 

No. Not even close. Not with this clown defense.

 

They'll have a shot if everyone stays healthy, best chance since Harden ran off CP3.....and a better chance than Harden would have anywhere else he could reasonably be traded after that team gave up what it would take to get him.

 

10pts and 10rebs total out of our starting forward tandem. we need an upgrade via trade. use those acquired draft picks

 

Kings are now the barometer on title contention...... this board has gone off the deep end once again

 

No.

In the playoffs, teams will double Harden and make him give the ball up.

They will give Wall the 3 all day.

This team will struggle to score if Harden does not have a big night.

Also, lol @ Kings being the litmus test for title contention.

 

If teams double Harden it leaves Wall open to drive and/or get the ball to Wood. This is the best team the Rockets have had since Harden ran CP3 off, it can be a legit championship contender.....and there's no Warriors caliber team to get in the way this time.

 

So Kings beat Denver twice... the same Denver team we lost to with just half our team playing. Realistically we would be 5-0 if we were full strength from game one. I know the actuality is what it is but this team has lots of potential. Just worry about defense, rebounding and turnovers.

 

I think you are ignoring context such as this team winning without Harden and having hardly any time playing together without a real full length training camp and off court drama with Harden and Covid.

 

I'd put us as 3rd favourites in the West.

After both LA teams

 

Pretty solid ranking for strip clubs.