Via ClutchPoints
Key Players: James Harden, Chris Paul, Clint Capela, Eric Gordon, Carmelo Anthony
The always trusted source Wikipedia describes the hamstring as the following: In human anatomy, a hamstring is one of the three posterior thigh muscles in between the hip and the knee (from medial to lateral: semimembranosus, semitendinosus and biceps femoris). The hamstrings are quite susceptible to injury.
That last sentence is triggering for all those associated with the Houston Rockets. Following a crucial game 5 win, to go up 3-2 on the Golden State Warriors, Houston showed no sign of contentment as Chris Paul's availability would be questioned for the rest of the series. Paul would not return for the remainder of the Western Conference Finals and the Houston Rockets would lose the series 4-3.
After scraping the edge of the Larry O' Brien trophy last season, the Rockets seem hell-bent on hoisting the NBA's most coveted award come June. To achieve that goal Houston had one of the busiest offseasons out of the entire league.
The Rockets offseason started small with the one-year signing of 2013 Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams, who head coach Mike D'Antoni raves about defensively. General manager Daryl Morey picked up steam as the summer progressed, saving $11 million by trading Ryan Anderson and second-round pick De'Anthony Melton to the Phoenix Suns for Brandon Knight and Marquese Chriss. To seemingly cap the offseason off with a bang, Houston signed future Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony to a one-year veteran minimum contract.
The word seemingly was used in that last sentence because the Rockets have one team in my mind -- the Golden State Warriors; and, there's never enough pieces when it comes to trying to take down the repeat champions.
With that in mind, Houston has openly put their name in the hat for the services of Jimmy Butler, as team owner Tilman Fertitta stated, "We would love to see Jimmy come home to Houston. It’s not a financial decision, it’s an assets decision on our part. We’ve got a great basketball team. We think we’re as good as anybody in the league. We’re not going to give up unreasonable assets, to break up this team, to get Jimmy Butler. But we would love to have him."
Houston's Best Case Scenario
Via WDEF
The Houston Rockets had it all last season.
James Harden t̶r̶a̶v̶e̶l̶e̶d̶ torched his way to his first MVP award, with averages of 30.4 points, 8.8 assists, and 5.4 rebounds. Chris Paul proved perfect in his role of co-leader/takeover-when-needed sidekick, as he coasted to a 19/5/8 statline. Playing alongside two of basketball's best guards, Clint Capela emerged as one of the best big men in the NBA, posting averages of 13.9 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks. Eric Gordon led a sharpshooting second unit with 8.8 three-point attempts a night, leading to 18 points per game.
Everything looked perfect for the Rockets until the second half of game seven of the Western Conference Finals went underway.
After going ahead by as much as 15, the Houston Rockets missed 27 straight three-point shots, fulfilling the quote "live by the three, die by the three." If only there was a player known for scoffing at systems in an attempt to get his shots off.
If the sarcasm and picture choice didn't give it away, that player is Carmelo Anthony. To those who are new to basketball or possess the quality of being easily persuaded, Anthony is the worst player to ever step foot on the court and is the human embodiment of a team killer; meanwhile, those who watch basketball and formulate their own opinions know that last season was the 34-year-old's first season averaging less than 20 points a night. However, even with last year being his worst season to date the 10x All-Star still finished just slightly below a combined scoring average effort of Houston's past small forwards, Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute, with 16.2 points to their 19.2.
Chances are Melo won't be the deciding factor on how well the Rockets season plays out, but his ability to call his own number in tough situations is the lone ingredient Houston was lacking. If Houston can recreate their success of last season with Anthony unselfishly playing the role of D'Antoni's parsley, the Rockets will have its first championship in 24 years.
Houston's Worst Case Scenario
Via 12UP
Houston, we have a problem. Boom, I said it. No regrets.
In actuality, the Houston Rockets have no problems. They're the second-best team in the NBA, and, in a strange way, thanks to the success they generated and their style of defeat last year, the Rockets have an earned aura of confidence surrounding their championship hopes.
Of course, theoretical injuries or a Carmelo vs. the system storyline can disrupt the aura Houston possesses, but both do no long-term damage. With today's resources, injuries can be healed in a year max; and, if Carmelo ruins the Rockets, like half the basketball world thinks he will, Houston can easily sever ties with the one-year contract.
However, Houston doesn't have the luxury of looking ahead to the next year following misfortunate events. With budding contenders like the Lakers and Thunder, and young teams developing like the Jazz and Nuggets, the Rockets are on the championship countdown.
Take into account Chris Paul missing a quarter of last year and coming into this season at 33-years-old, it's safe to assume the point God is on day six of his NBA career. Now throw in the fact that Paul is getting paid $40 million yearly for the next four years and the stakes are 'Coloroda kid with anxiety, wearing a HUF shirt with the matching socks, living next to a weed dispensary, trying to fit in with his Soundcloud rapper friends on 4/20' high.
Championship or bust seems unfair for a team that hasn't made it to the Finals in over two decades and plays in the same era as arguably the greatest assembly of basketball talent ever, but, due to the pressure Houston has placed on itself, anything less than title number three for the Rockets is a failure.
Record Prediction: 67-15; The league's best chance at dethroning the Warriors plays a determined 2018-2019 season.