How similar are the Rockets and the defending champs?

Can Harden still be efficient against physical defenses when they swallow the whistles.

He's shown a tendency to get flustered and his production drops / turnovers skyrocket

 

Bright minds think a like, OP.
I've been watching the curious comparison, too. Thread from last week.

HOU #3 Off #21 Def, Champs #3-tied Off #19 Def, Net Rox #7 Champs #6

 

I would like the Rockets to get closer to the Cavs 14th ranked DRtg. With Dekker,Harrell & Capella
improving & more home games....I'm expecting the DRtg to improve. Bzdelik was a good hire.

 

If you remove the first few awful games of the season we're probably 14th or better.

 

In the fine words of Russell Westbrook.

"All I care about is winning, man, honestly," "All the numbers s**t don’t mean nothing to me."

 

In all respect, I think this happens with all the teams in the NBA. I understand that as fans, we normally want our teams to play 110% for 82 games but I am not sure if that is a fair expectation as they are also human and subject to the same mistakes we make.

 

No doubt. Cavs are basically in tact from last yr. Rockets are new with many variables.