Houston Rockets: NBA season preview, roster and schedule 2018


Offseason Recap

Arrivals: Chris Paul, PJ Tucker, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Zhou Qi, Tim Quarterman, Tarik Black, Demetrius Jackson, Cameron Oliver

Departures: Patrick Beverley, Montrezl Harrell, Sam Dekker, Lou Williams, Kyle Wiltjer

Daryl Morey has done it again. The Houston general manager swung a huge deal this offseason to bring in superstar point guard Chris Paul. He needed to sacrifice a handful of key pieces like Patrick Beverley, Lou Williams, Sam Dekker, and Montrezl Harrell in a sign-and-trade with the Clippers, but it was a small price to pay to get a player of CP3’s caliber.

Meanwhile, Morey also helped make the Rockets better-equipped to face the Warriors by adding PJ Tucker and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute. With those two joining Trevor Ariza, the Rockets now have a trio of versatile and capable defenders to throw at the Warriors’ talented wings in a potential playoff series.

The Rockets were also reportedly the frontrunners for Carmelo Anthony, but they couldn’t get a deal done and Melo eventually went to the Oklahoma City Thunder. But even without Anthony, the Rockets figure to have a team that can fully contend in the Western Conference.

Projected Depth Chart

C - Clint Capela / Nene / Chinanu Onuaku

PF - Ryan Anderson / Luc Richard Mbah a Moute / Tarik Black

SF - Trevor Ariza / PJ Tucker / Troy Williams

SG - James Harden / Eric Gordon

PG - Chris Paul / Isaiah Taylor / Bobby Brown

Strengths

There may be doubts over how well Paul and Harden will play together, but even if they experience growing pains, it’s hard to see a scenario where the Rockets don’t have top offense. 

Houston finished just behind the Warriors in offensive efficiency last season, and with Paul now on board, there’s just too much talent and too much three-point shooting on the roster for this team not to succeed on that end of the court.

One or both of Paul and Harden will be on the court virtually at all times and will be surrounded by capable shooters like Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson, as well as a promising roll man in Clint Capela. If there’s a head coach that can make all those pieces work on offense, it’s Mike D’Antoni.

If Paul and Harden make it work, this might be one of the best offensive backcourts in recent memory. Both can do just about everything offensively and should take the pressure off of one another in terms of running the show. 

Weaknesses

Defense remains the big question mark for this Rockets team. They were a little below average in defensive efficiency last season, and that needs to improve in order for them to become true title contenders. 

They were particularly bad at defending around the basket. While Capela is a promising, young shot-blocker, the Rockets still gave up nearly 70 percent shooting to opponents within three feet, the worst mark in the league. The Rockets looked to address the defense by bringing in Tucker and Mbah a Moute, but whether those moves are good enough to get them over the hump remains to be seen. 

Backcourt depth could also be a bit of an issue, especially if either Harden or Paul goes down for an extended period. Paul is a particularly real injury risk, and with Isaiah Taylor and Bobby Brown behind them in the depth chart, the Rockets can’t afford to have him missing significant time.

Player to Watch - Chris Paul

Conventional wisdom says that putting together two players who dominate the ball as much as Paul and Harden isn’t an ideal fit. But Paul greenlit this move to the Rockets, and the onus will be just as much on him as it will be on Morey to make this move work.

It’s not as if Paul is incapable of adjusting and playing more off the ball. He’s a terrific shooter and should be able to knock down a fair share of open shots playing next to Harden, who can shred defenses with his drive-and-kick ability.

The question is whether Paul will be willing to give up control of a team for the first time in his career. Even though his legacy is somewhat at stake, it’s still not a surefire lock that he buys in.

Regardless of what happens, though, the Rockets will be one of the more fascinating teams to watch in the league because of that whole dynamic between Paul and Harden.

2017/18 Schedule

1 Oct 17, 2017 @ Golden State Warriors     

2 Oct 18, 2017 @ Sacramento Kings     

3 Oct 21, 2017 vs. Dallas Mavericks     

4 Oct 23, 2017 vs. Memphis Grizzlies     

5 Oct 25, 2017 @ Philadelphia 76ers     

6 Oct 27, 2017 @ Charlotte Hornets     

7 Oct 28, 2017 @ Memphis Grizzlies     

8 Oct 30, 2017 vs. Philadelphia 76ers     

9 Nov 1, 2017 @ New York Knicks     

10 Nov 3, 2017 @ Atlanta Hawks     

11 Nov 5, 2017 vs. Utah Jazz     

12 Nov 9, 2017 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers     

13 Nov 11, 2017 vs. Memphis Grizzlies     

14 Nov 12, 2017 @ Indiana Pacers     

15 Nov 14, 2017 vs. Toronto Raptors     

16 Nov 16, 2017 @ Phoenix Suns     

17 Nov 18, 2017 @ Memphis Grizzlies     

18 Nov 22, 2017 vs. Denver Nuggets     

19 Nov 25, 2017 vs. New York Knicks     

20 Nov 27, 2017 vs. Brooklyn Nets     

21 Nov 29, 2017 vs. Indiana Pacers     

22 Dec 3, 2017 @ Los Angeles Lakers     

23 Dec 7, 2017 @ Utah Jazz     

24 Dec 9, 2017 @ Portland Trail Blazers     

25 Dec 11, 2017 vs. New Orleans Pelicans     

26 Dec 13, 2017 vs. Charlotte Hornets     

27 Dec 15, 2017 vs. San Antonio Spurs     

28 Dec 16, 2017 vs. Milwaukee Bucks     

29 Dec 18, 2017 vs. Utah Jazz     

30 Dec 20, 2017 vs. Los Angeles Lakers     

31 Dec 22, 2017 vs. Los Angeles Clippers     

32 Dec 25, 2017 @ Oklahoma City Thunder     

33 Dec 28, 2017 @ Boston Celtics     

34 Dec 29, 2017 @ Washington Wizards     

35 Dec 31, 2017 vs. Los Angeles Lakers     

36 Jan 3, 2018 @ Orlando Magic     

37 Jan 4, 2018 vs. Golden State Warriors     

38 Jan 6, 2018 @ Detroit Pistons     

39 Jan 8, 2018 @ Chicago Bulls     

40 Jan 10, 2018 vs. Portland Trail Blazers     

41 Jan 12, 2018 @ Phoenix Suns     

42 Jan 15, 2018 @ Los Angeles Clippers     

43 Jan 18, 2018 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves     

44 Jan 20, 2018 vs. Golden State Warriors     

45 Jan 22, 2018 vs. Miami Heat     

46 Jan 24, 2018 @ Dallas Mavericks     

47 Jan 26, 2018 @ New Orleans Pelicans     

48 Jan 28, 2018 vs. Phoenix Suns     

49 Jan 30, 2018 vs. Orlando Magic     

50 Feb 1, 2018 @ San Antonio Spurs     

51 Feb 3, 2018 @ Cleveland Cavaliers     

52 Feb 6, 2018 @ Brooklyn Nets     

53 Feb 7, 2018 @ Miami Heat     

54 Feb 9, 2018 vs. Denver Nuggets     

55 Feb 11, 2018 vs. Dallas Mavericks     

56 Feb 13, 2018 @ Minnesota Timberwolves     

57 Feb 14, 2018 vs. Sacramento Kings     

58 Feb 23, 2018 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves     

59 Feb 25, 2018 @ Denver Nuggets     

60 Feb 26, 2018 @ Utah Jazz     

61 Feb 28, 2018 @ Los Angeles Clippers     

62 Mar 3, 2018 vs. Boston Celtics     

63 Mar 6, 2018 @ Oklahoma City Thunder     

64 Mar 7, 2018 @ Milwaukee Bucks     

65 Mar 9, 2018 @ Toronto Raptors     

66 Mar 11, 2018 @ Dallas Mavericks     

67 Mar 12, 2018 vs. San Antonio Spurs     

68 Mar 15, 2018 vs. Los Angeles Clippers     

69 Mar 17, 2018 @ New Orleans Pelicans     

70 Mar 18, 2018 @ Minnesota Timberwolves     

71 Mar 20, 2018 @ Portland Trail Blazers     

72 Mar 22, 2018 vs. Detroit Pistons     

73 Mar 24, 2018 vs. New Orleans Pelicans     

74 Mar 25, 2018 vs. Atlanta Hawks     

75 Mar 27, 2018 vs. Chicago Bulls     

76 Mar 30, 2018 vs. Phoenix Suns     

77 Apr 1, 2018 @ San Antonio Spurs     

78 Apr 3, 2018 vs. Washington Wizards     

79 Apr 5, 2018 vs. Portland Trail Blazers     

80 Apr 7, 2018 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder     

81 Apr 10, 2018 @ Los Angeles Lakers     

82 Apr 11, 2018 @ Sacramento Kings  

Prediction

With all the talent at their disposal, the Rockets figure to be one of the two top challengers to the Warriors in the West. They clearly have the offensive capabilities, and the added defensive pieces they picked up could prove crucial.

Harden and Paul historically take the regular season seriously, so they likely finish second in the West with a 57-25 record.

However, the playoffs are another matter. If Paul and Harden don't completely click, there's still a chance they fall in the second round to the Spurs or Thunder. And even if they do click, the Warriors will be waiting in the conference finals, and they probably still come up short. Either way, a trip to the Finals doesn't seem to be in the cards for Houston this season.

Opinions on the Rockets this season? Discuss in the comments below!

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