How Do the Rockets Beat the NBA?

By Forrest Walker | September 9, 2013 at 11:39 am

The season is rapidly approaching, and the time for previews and speculation is here. The Houston Rockets have as much to speculate on as any team in the league, with a new superstar in Dwight Howard. Nobody knows how the Rockets will be able to defeat other teams in the league, but we can certainly speculate and postulate all month long. I’ll be doing exactly that for the next few weeks, looking at how the Rockets will have to approach each team in each division to achieve victory.

The Rockets are one of the most peculiar teams in the league, as their recent rebuilding efforts have left them with a team comprised half of contending pieces and half of movable assets. Having Dwight Howard and Ömer Aşık on the same team isn’t optimal, but it was unavoidable. Jeremy Lin, while a good point guard who still has massive potential, probably isn’t the best fit for the lineup. Terrence Jones and Donatas Motiejunas show some promise, but aren’t what you want for a team hoping to win it all. James Harden and Dwight Howard, on the other hand, may well be the two best players at their respective positions.

So how does this still-evolving group of players leverage their skills to beat every single team? That’s what I’ll be examining for the next three weeks. Many teams have changed, many players have progressed, and the Rockets themselves are a very new animal. Let’s engage in speculation for a few weeks, argue in the comments, and get ready for the season to begin. It’s finally September.

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Total comments: 17
  • John P says 3 days ago

    The core to this team is Harden, Howard, Parsons and maybe, just maybe, Asik. that may seem crazy, as everyone thinks (including myself) that Asik and Howard probably can't or shouldn't be on the same team and optimize their talents.

    But if we can find a way to work the two of them together, sharing the court some times, some times giving Howard longer breaks during the regular season to save him for playoffs, then I think Asik becomes a key to the core as well.

    So with that core in mind, my guess is that the first half of the season is just focusing on that core and everything else revolves around those pieces: running Harden/Howard pick and rolls, or subbing in Parsons for Harden or Asik for Howard, and trying other sets.

    I don't think anyone belives that other moves are not going to happen later this season, before or at the trade deadline, but most likely the coaching will focus on that core and seeing how we can win with that focus.

    Therefore all other players: Lin, Beverley, the 4s, Garcia, etc....will all plug in here or there to see what works playing off of that core.

    As far as potential rivals, all of these could easily give us a run for our money:
    Clippers (Jordan my be a hinderance but with a great coach and better outside shooting they will be a force), Chicago (with Rose back), OKC, Miami, Indiana, maybe Brooklyn (if the pieces can all play together), SAS, Golden State. I would put Memphis as a dark horse but they are basically the same team as last year so absent a new wing shooting dynamo being added to their awesome D, I just don't see them being that good.

    So with that list, there is absolutely no lock on the WCF, unless we are near the top of the regularly season record.

    But regardless, if the team can remotely jell together with decent coaching, they will be one of the hottest, most fun teams in the NBA to watch.

  • Richards says 3 days ago

    You nailed it on our last year plays. :)

    I remember games where Smith started, Lin brought up the ball and dump in Smith instead of Harden. And then Smith do post up with a good success.

    So they run the play that suit well for Howard. Like you said, our two superstars need touches and they must buy in for team success.

  • RollingWave says 3 days ago

    They had a playbook but it was a fairly simple one, essentially it's

    plan A: run down the court faster than the other team for a transition bucket

    if that fails

    plan B: try to start a dribble motion offense set from either Harden or Lin and just react from there

    if that looks bad

    plan C: try some sort of pick and roll

    if that fails

    plan D: HARDEN STEP BACK SIDE STEP 3 BABY!!!!

    I hope they have a better plan D this year at least. but essentially all 4 plan involve heavily on the decision making of Harden and/or Lin (well except plan D, )

    It is a good question though what the Rockets game plan is, they really SHOULD just continue last year's plan and evolve it further, but it is possible that Howard changes their plans a bit. one really should not underestimate the importance of continuity of a system and team in the NBA. I think McHale and crew certainly knows that extremely well, the problem is will Dwight buy in, well if he doesn't buy in we're screwed anyway.

  • BrentYen says 3 days ago

    I intend on writing a comprehensive post on this subject tonight. I believe I can comfortably lay out a statistical analysis of what the Rockets will bring next season. I will be pulling enhanced pieces from articles I have already written along with an analysis of the defense. Expect lots of diagrams and charts and individual topics.

    Very looking forward to it! Thanks in advance!

  • NorEastern says 3 days ago I intend on writing a comprehensive post on this subject tonight. I believe I can comfortably lay out a statistical analysis of what the Rockets will bring next season. I will be pulling enhanced pieces from articles I have already written along with an analysis of the defense. Expect lots of diagrams and charts and individual topics.
  • Buckko says 3 days ago Pacers are more a playoff team than a regular season team and the rockets need a chance to gel before ripping this team apart with trades. Also Kwai had a great playoffs but wasn't too spectacular in the regular season so don't guarantee Allstar status yet.
  • Cooper says 3 days ago Duncan and Parker aren't quite Howard or harden but kwahi makes up for some of that along with pop. I like Goerge but hibbert and west aren't quite #2 options and george isn't a great #1 yet
  • timetodienow1234567 says 3 days ago On paper SAS does not have the talent but Pop bridges that gap. Lets hope that Mchale doesn't do the opposite.
  • rockets best fan says 3 days ago

    DON'T WORRY.......BE HAPPY :)

    On paper Miami okc Chicago and San Antonio are the only teams that can match our top line talent, its just if mchale can get the pieces to fit and they avoid major injuries. Will be the most intriguing season since McGrady and Yao were around.

    I would add Indiana to that group, but you're right.....only a few teams have the stockpile of talent necessary to compete with us and of those teams we are in the best position to improve. I predict there will be a parade nextJune in downtown Houston

  • Cooper says 3 days ago It didnt look like they had a playbook.
  • Richards says 3 days ago

    Does anyone know Rockets has a playbook this year. Coach Sampson said they had none last year.

  • BrentYen says 3 days ago

    I really hope it will not be the case on the offensive end...

    I don think both DH12 and Harden will want to hurt teams W/L record.

    However, I think they will competing for the alpha dog status of the team tho.

  • timetodienow1234567 says 3 days ago

    Multiple PnR sets, with some pick and pop with Parsons as the pop man. Keep everybody moving quickly and look for good high percentage shots.

    What will happen = Howard posts up a lot. Harden ISO's a lot. We go down in offensive numbers. We increase defensively. We finish with close to the same record as last year.

  • Richards says 3 days ago

    I want to hear what system Rockets should use to optimize the talents we currently have.

  • Cooper says 3 days ago On paper Miami okc Chicago and San Antonio are the only teams that can match our top line talent, its just if mchale can get the pieces to fit and they avoid major injuries. Will be the most intriguing season since McGrady and Yao were around.
  • BrentYen says 3 days ago

    Well, that been said, I think we are the only team that will need to change the most for the next season. Too many unknowns here compare to other western playoff teams.

  • timetodienow1234567 says 3 days ago

    I look forward to it. I know that for me, anything less than a CLOSE loss in the WCF is a failure. They have enough talent to win it all and we'll see if they can put it all together.