The All-Star starters have just been announced. The Rockets are currently at 12-10 and would like to gain traction in an increasingly tight Southwest Division race. They are currently tied with the Grizzlies for the ninth seed and a game out of the playoffs behind the Lakers.

1. Fact or Fiction: Houston will have a winning record this month.

Eric Todd, Red94: Fact. The expectation is that Lowry’s recent slump is the anomaly, not his fast start. February’s schedule should allow the Rockets to keep their heads above water, if just barely.

Favian Pua, Red94: Fiction. The Rockets might be headed to a 7-8 or 6-9 record this month as strength of schedule catches up. They will be traveling to Denver, Memphis, and Portland while playing host to the Thunder and Sixers. It could get ugly.

Michael Pina, Re94: Fact. With five back-to-backs and seven of their 15 games on the road, it won’t be easy. But Houston will catch a break by playing four of the teams twice, which is wonderful for familiarity purposes. Also, the competition isn’t exactly dominant: Phoenix (twice), Golden State, Toronto, Utah (twice), and Minnesota (twice).

2. Fact or Fiction: The Rockets will send an All-Star Game representative to Orlando.

Eric: Fact. Kevin Martin will be Kobe’s back-up at the two, not so much because Martin is having a break-out year, but more-so because the lack of super-star shooting guards in the Western Conference will make him the de-facto choice for most coaches.

Favian: Fiction. Kyle Lowry has slumped ever since his triple-double, and the recency effect psychology will definitely play a significant role when the coaches place their ballots.

Michael: Fact. I know he’s sputtered in the last week or so, but the body of work Kyle Lowry has put together this year can’t be overlooked. When you combine his two-way talent with all the responsibilities the coaching staff has placed on his shoulders, Lowry qualifies as one of those early season MVP candidates with no actual shot at winning the award. He’s been fantastic this year.

Eric: Fact. This rumor has been circulating now for a few weeks, and though the trade would certainly not propel the Rockets into the upper echelon of NBA talent, it would improve the team in the short term without burdening its future salary commitments. All this, of course, assumes that Kaman is in shape enough to actually play.

Favian:Fact. The Hornets could seriously consider what Houston is offering them (Thabeet/Williams/Hill/Flynn) provided that the Rockets include the 2012 first round pick acquired from the Knicks. Does it make the Rockets stronger overall? Yes, but only for half a season. He’s a rental and won’t be around for the long haul.

Michael: Fiction. For all intents and purposes, I don’t see why the Hornets would bite on a Hasheem Thabeet, Jonny Flynn, Terrence Williams pu pu platter, or why the Rockets would include a Knicks draft pick that’s increasing in value by the day. Placing Kaman on the Rockets would make Houston a match-up nightmare come playoff time, but the two sides arriving at a fair deal seems unlikely.

The Rockets are coming off a 108-99 loss to the Lakers and a 117-89 dismantling at the hands of the Clippers. Our analysts assess the situation.

1. Miracle or Mirage: Kyle Lowry’s early bid for Most Improved Player.

Rahat Huq, Red94: It’s not too surprising that he’s producing as a starter–when extrapolating his early advanced stats–but I don’t think anyone expected he’d reach this level.  Including the tail end of last season, I think we now have enough of a sample size to feel confident that what we’re getting is close to who Kyle Lowry really is.

Jacob Mustafa, Red94: If it qualifies as a miracle, Lowry’s emergence as a semi-star certainly only counts as a small one. The last 20 or so games of last season allowed Lowry to display his new shooting touch, and the beginning of this one has simply continued the coronation. MIP almost doesn’t seem like quite enough for someone with all of the tools that Kyle has.

Eric Todd, Red94: Neither. Lowry has shown flashes that alluded to his potential since he was a rookie in Memphis but was trapped behind Mike Conley there and Aaron Brooks for his first season in Houston. His production this season has been consistent with what it was last year after he became the starter.

2. Fact or Fiction: Chase Budinger is better suited coming off the bench.

Rahat: Fact, if Kevin Martin is the shooting guard.  The problem is that this team doesn’t really have any other options.  Parsons would probably fare just as poorly defensively and Terrence Williams hasn’t shown much so far.

Jacob: Fiction. Unless this team suddenly deems Marcus Morris a valid option at the three or finds out which cog has been malfunctioning in the five-tool-machine that should be Terrence Williams, Budinger’s manifold skills on the offensive end offer just about the only level of consistency the Rockets have at the wing. And it’s certainly better than those awful three-guard sets.

Eric: Fact, but only on how he relates to this particular Rockets’ starting unit. Houston desperately needs a defensive stopper to play alongside Martin and Scola. I’m not suggesting that Budinger is the worst defender in the league, just that the team needs someone far better than average to try to compensate for what his running mates lack.

3. In a best-of-seven series, the Rockets are most likely to:

(A) Defeat the Lakers and the Clippers

(B) Defeat the Lakers, lose to the Clippers

(C) Lose to the Lakers, defeat the Clippers

(D) Lose to the Lakers and the Clippers

Rahat: D. Right now, the Rockets just don’t have enough to hang with either LA team.  The Clippers just seem overall better, after last night’s showing, and the Rockets have no answer for Bynum.

Jacob: D. Too much firepower resides in Staples Center for either Los Angeles team to be pushed to more than six games in any given series, at least as the Rockets’ are currently constituted. Houston’s ball movement and overall offense can be superb, but this Rockets defense has no chance stopping the Bynums, Pauls, Griffins and Kobes one-on-one.

Eric: D. Is this even a question? Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum, Chris Paul, and Blake Griffin, the Rockets don’t have a single player who can compete with any of these guys. We’d be lucky to make it to 6 games against either of these teams.

Well, we’re here.  Saturday marks the start of the 2011-2012 basketball season with our beloved Rockets warming up in a pre-season exhibition against their rivals from San Antonio.  To usher in the new year, I got together with two of my favorite Rockets writers, Tom Martin from The Dreamshake, and Jason Friedman of Rockets.com.  What ensues are some brief takes on the team in 2012.

1. Which Houston Rocket is most likely to have a breakout season?

Jason: I can’t wait to see what Kyle Lowry has in store for us this year. If it’s a relative repeat of what we’ve seen from him the past two years, great. If, however, he can maintain his March numbers (20 ppg, 8 apg, 5 rpg, .427 3-pt%) over the course of an entire season, we’re talking All Star.

Tom: If Carl Landry could “break out” playing behind Luis Scola, I’ve got a hunch Patrick Patterson can do the same. Like Landry, he’s a dynamic, spread-the-floor scorer and owns a seemingly patented “Scrappy Houston Rockets Motor.” That said, Patterson brings more to the table on the glass and on defense, and with Kevin McHale now on board, I expect his post play to improve significantly.

Rahat: Johnny Flynn was so bad in Minnesota that we forget he is a former #6 overall pick.  Now healthy and in a more conventional system (the Wolves ran the triangle), I think Flynn bounces back and at least looks like an NBA player.  Daryl Morey will have decisions to make between the former Syracuse standout and Goran Dragic.

2. Which Houston Rocket has the most potential?

Jason: Terrence Williams is the most physically talented player on the Rockets’ roster. He’s an athletic freak with all the size, strength, quickness and explosiveness you’d ever want to see at his position. He also can really pass and has the capacity to be a lockdown defender. The sky’s the limit. It’s on T-Will to fully focus and reach those heights.

Tom: There is no denying Terrence Williams’ athleticism, but I’m not convinced he can harness his potential just yet. He lacks polish and patience, two attributes I’ll gladly throw in the direction of rookie Marcus Morris. Call me crazy for choosing an unproven rook, but if Morris can play small forward, he has the jump shot and the size to score from anywhere on the floor. Think Carmelo Anthony… and divide by two.

Rahat: Few guys in this league possess the raw gifts of Terrence Williams from size, to athleticism, to innate vision as a passer.  Can he finally put it together?  If T-Will could just overcome the attitude issues which have plagued his career, the Rockets could have an All-Star on their hands.

3. What must the Rockets do/improve upon from last season to be a playoff team this year?

Jason: The Rockets have to be better defensively, period. That doesn’t just mean making people miss; it also means pounding the glass when those misses occur. Houston ranked in the bottom third of the league last year in defensive rebound rate and opponent field goal percentage allowed, a toxic combination for any team harboring hopes for the playoffs.

Tom: Defense is the key here, but even more important is its timing. The Rockets were among the league’s worst in fourth-quarter points allowed last year, and it came back to bite them in far too many winnable games. Houston still lacks the legitimate center it so desperately needs, but don’t expect this team to make excuses. They have to play bigger and make up for the deficiency.

Rahat: Defense, defense, defense.  With Lowry, Martin, and Scola returning, the offense will be there.  With Hayes gone, the ‘D’ takes a huge step back.  After losing their best interior defender, things could get ugly for the Rockets.  How Patrick Patterson slides in to fill that hole left will be key to the team’s fate.

All three Texas teams have now won titles and they did it on the backs of some all-time greats.  In a look back at recent history, I got together with Tim Varner (ESPN.com’s 48 Minutes of Hell) and Rob Mahoney (New York Times, NBC Sports, and ESPN.com’s The Two Man Game) for a Texas-sized 3-on-3.

Who was/has been the best player in Texas in the last 20 years?

1. Tim Varner: I tend to see this as a four man race, with David Robinson intruding at the fringes of a conversation that finds Hakeem Olajuwon, Dirk Nowitzki and Tim Duncan at its center. Nowitzki is currently in the limelight, and Olajuwon is woefully under-appreciated, but my heart is still with Duncan. I could make the he’s-won-more argument, but my preference for Duncan is as much an emotional attachment as anything.

2. Rob Mahoney: Weighing the careers of Tim Duncan and Hakeem Olajuwon is as difficult as any such comparisons get. The margin between the two players is razor-thin; both are elite offensive contributors, world-class defenders, stellar rebounders, superb teammates, franchise cornerstones, and exemplary leaders. Yet if forced to nudge my determination from the razor’s edge, I’d choose Duncan, though without the fervor nor the gall to tell you that Hakeem is in any way unworthy. It’s just a matter of taste, really.

3. Rahat Huq: I’m going with Hakeem.  Dirk and Duncan took the floor every night flanked by fellow All-Stars.  Dream rotted through his prime next to the likes of Joe Barry Carroll.  His best teammate was a 32-year-old Clyde Drexler and the Glide was rapidly on the decline.  Had he had more help, Olajuwon would have won more hardware.

What was the most significant event in Texas in the last 20 years?

1. Tim Varner: David Robinson’s broken foot. The Admiral’s missed season set the stage for the Spurs’ selection of Tim Duncan at the top of the draft. That moment, more or less, began San Antonio’s decade long dominance and set the stage for four championships.

2. Rob Mahoney: Lots of great candidates here, but I’ll plug a dark horse: the drafting of Manu Ginobili. Hitting the lottery with Tim Duncan was critical to San Antonio’s success, but their long-term contention was only possible because they selected an All-NBAer with the 57th pick in the 1999 draft. R.C. Buford and Gregg Popovich have worked some magic in San Antonio, but that kind of payoff for such a low draft pick was a flat-out miracle. With Duncan alone, the Spurs would have been very good. With Duncan and Ginobili at no cost other than draft picks? They were incredible.

3. Rahat Huq: Many to choose from but here’s one surely overlooked – Dallas’ 2001 acquisition of forward Juwan Howard. With Dirk, Finley, and Nash, the Mavs already had a nucleus.  But it was obtaining Howard’s $17million salary–for nothing–that allowed the team to consistently revamp its supporting cast through a chain of moves.  The Howard contract was later traded for Raef LaFrentz and Nick Van Exel.  They were each subsequently dealt in similarly high profile moves.  And so on.

What Texas team has the brightest future?

1. Tim Varner: Dallas. Mark Cuban has the means and the vision to field a competitive team on an annual basis. Cuban is an innovator whose dedication to winning finally brought home a trophy last season. I see that continuing, even after Dirk Nowitzki retires.

2. Rob Mahoney: None of the Texas teams are particularly primed for the long haul, but I’ll go with Dallas. Dirk Nowitzki could contribute in the NBA until he’s 50 if that’s his aim, and the Mavericks have the infrastructure to reboot with relative ease. Mark Cuban, Donnie Nelson, and Rick Carlisle give Dallas the means and savvy to transition quickly, and it doesn’t hurt that the Mavs also have a few young pieces (Rodrigue Beaubois, Dominique Jones, Corey Brewer) to fiddle around with.

3. Rahat Huq: I’ll say Dallas.  You have to get really bad to get good as titles are won through the draft.  Mark Cuban is the only boss from any of these teams to have made public acknowledgment on this point (stated last year at the Sloan Analytics Conference) so I trust he’ll tank when it’s time.  Meanwhile, the Rockets are on a track to pick 14th every year and we’re not sure what the Spurs are planning.

Fresh off the success of the 5-on-5 project, ESPN.com is bringing the round-table flagship to the pages of the TrueHoop Network.  In that vein, we’re kicking things off by posing three of the hottest questions to our three main contributors.  If you’d like to hear our takes on any specific topics, shoot me a line at rahathuq@red94.net, @RedNinetyFour on Twitter, or on the Facebook fan page.  We hope you enjoy our first installment of 3-on-3-Houston Rockets, with many more to come!

1. Do you agree with the Rick Adelman firing and Kevin McHale hiring?

Michael Pina: I believe the Rick Adelman departure was more a mutually beneficial departure than a “firing”, but regardless, the move was a good one. The Rockets are smack dab between rock bottom and world champion, the least enviable position an organization can find itself in. The team’s season by season win total wasn’t increasing in his four years, and a new head coach, especially one in the Hall of Fame, shouldn’t hurt.

Eric Todd: First of all, to say that Rick Adelman was fired, from the way I understood the situation at least, is not exactly accurate. Is Adelman a good coach, and could the team have made a greater effort to keep him? Absolutely.  Is McHale a better fit? Ask me again this time next year.

Jacob Mustafa: If David Kahn immediately hires the person a team just let go, a good decision was probably just made; however, does that assumption pass muster if the former team subsequently hires Kahn’s own predecessor? McHale cuts an imposing figure, in terms of both legacy and sheer size, but saying that his résumé pales in comparison to Adelman’s goes beyond understatement.

2. Orlando Magic star Dwight Howard will likely be on the block this winter.  Do the Rockets have a chance to obtain him?

Michael Pina: If Houston makes everyone on their roster, short of Kevin Martin and Kyle Lowry, expendable (similar to what New York with Denver) then yes, they’re definitely in the hunt. They have enough pieces, and following in the footsteps of Hakeem Olajuwon and revitalizing Houston’s large market is an easy sell for Dwight. Obtaining him would instantly transform Houston into a title contender—unless, of course, Jordan Hill is lost in the deal.

Eric Todd: As much as I’d love to see this happen, I’m not convinced it’s a realistic possibility. The Rockets would have to start off the season very well, with a solid majority of its young assets showing off genuine potential, to persuade Dwight that this is a place he could win.

Jacob Mustafa: The proposed “Melo Rule” might make an in-season trade impossible, but whenever Howard becomes attainable, Houston should find itself nicely situated for getting the big man’s services. Supes’ reasons for coming to the H seem manifold: fantastic assets for a sign-and-trade, a glut of upcoming cap space, warm weather, eminent management, even tons of mega-churches to cater to Howard’s piety.

3. General manager Daryl Morey’s stated goal during his tenure has been to land a ‘star.’  If, within the next two years, he fails, will his time here have been a failure?

Michael Pina: Daryl Morey is one of the most popular GM’s in the league and widely regarded as a transcendent figure in his profession. Whether or not he obtains a superstar is partly out of his control—2/3 of the league is in the same positon—and the major injuries certainly didn’t help. It’d be tough to call the man a failure, even if he can’t grab a top flight superstar.

Eric Todd: I wouldn’t view it that way, no. By ‘star’ I believe what Mr. Morey means is a superstar, of which there are only about 10 players in the league who qualify for such a conversation,  9 of whom are still with the teams that drafted them. So, no, I wouldn’t say that having or not having the kind of luck it takes to land a superstar plays very much into how successful or competent I believe a GM to be.

Jacob Mustafa: Morey changed this team’s culture for the better, upgraded the team at every position (at which a former All-Star didn’t physically implode), started a mini-revolution without all of the carnage and vestigial anger… but without that game-changer, his run will have disappointed. What can I say? Competent management raises expectations, at least beyond “perennial best team not in the postseason”.