Half Way There - Ultimate Rockets broke down the good and the bad of the Rockets now and moving forward as the Rockets approach the midpoint of the season. First, some of the good.
3. Big ‘Three’: The Rockets might not have a Big Three that has marked many recent champions, but forward Chandler Parsons, playing the “three,” has emerged in his third season as the ideal third man in, ranking third among the Rockets in scoring, rebounding and assists, while bringing the ball movement and cutting to complement Howard and James Harden.
When other small forwards were having breakout performances last postseason (Kawhi Leonard and Harrison Barnes), it felt like Chandler Parsons was getting left out in the cold. The Warriors were the bell of the ball due to beating a weak three seed (Denver) in the first round, and Leonard’s performance in the Finals, while impressive, was just seven games. I never saw “the future of the San Antonio Spurs” like so many countless pundits foresaw. Meanwhile, against one of the NBA’s toughest match-ups in Kevin Durant, the Hair saw nearly every one of his stat sheet numbers and percentages increase during the pressure of the playoffs.
Parsons’ basketball acumen and overall skill-set could fit seamlessly on any roster in the league. He’s the perfect compliment to any number of systems, stars or coaches and it’s time he got credit for something other than his team-friendly contract.
Of course, there were also negatives to point out.
1. Bottom feeder blues: The Rockets won’t face the Jazz, Kings or Sixers in the playoffs, but the Rockets’ repeated letdowns against weak competition could be enough to cost a spot or two in seeding in the tight Western Conference for homecourt advantage.
This has been the biggest bugaboo for me so far this season. The Rockets have a tendency to play down (but not always up) to their competition. Maybe it was that the first part of the schedule was so compact, or maybe just working out the kinks of a new roster, but losses to bottom feeders almost feel like double-losses in the standings for a team needing every bit of help it can get in the ultra-competitive West. Just one of those losses (right now) is the difference between hosting game one against the Clippers in the first round and having to play in LA.
He also discusses the struggles of the second unit, hampered even more by the Patrick Beverley injury, but we’ll get into that more in just a few lines.
Get Out and Vote - If you haven’t done so already, be sure to cast your vote for all your favorite Rockets’ players in this years’ All Star game.
Currently, Jeremy Lin and James Harden sit fourth and fifth respectively in the backcourt, well behind Chris Paul at three. But surprisingly, given the flack he takes for his image, Dwight Howard is second behind only Kevin Durant in the frontcourt voting. Even more surprising is Omer Asik’s inclusion at fourteen (14!!!), one spot behind (less-surprising) Chandler Parsons. Both are just ahead of the Spurs’ future, Kawhi Leonard.
View this discussion from the forum.