The Eventual Failure Of The Houston Rockets
It’s been a hell of a season so far in the NBA in which, as we’ve been used to for the better part of the ongoing century, the Western Conference has cemented its position as the “alpha-Conference” over its widely inferior and depleted Eastern counterpart.
For perspective’s sake, here’s how HoopsHabit’s own Shane Young explains the previous dominance:
(Note: For more on the previous information, go here.)
However lopsided conference strength might be, there’s still about four teams out of the Eastern Conference — Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors, and Washington Wizards — and every single playoff team out of the Western Conference that could eventually make a solid run at the wide-open 2014-15 NBA title.
The steady Houston Rockets are not the exception … yet.
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Throughout the month of December the Rockets have racked up wins against some of the most dominant teams in the Western Conference, with wins against the Memphis Grizzlies, twice; the Portland Trail Blazers; and the Phoenix Suns, the Rockets’ case for true contention has been made quite a few times.
The addition of Alexey Shved, Corey Brewer and Josh Smith further reinforces the previous notion that Daryl Morey’s team might be, even with the Golden State Warriors, the Grizzlies and the surging Trail Blazers standing before them, the team to beat out of the Western Conference.
With Dwight Howard back in the starting lineup and the other ailing Rockets coming back sooner rather than later, the already dominant Rockets are bound to get better.
Still, as it should in a tolling 82-game season, there’s doubt surrounding the Rockets’ hopes.
What’s wrong with their offense? The high-octane Rockets are scoring at will and are playing one of the smartest offenses around the league, however, even with almost no low-percentage shooting whatsoever — averaging only 8.9 mid-range shots per game, good enough for the last place in the league — the Rockets come in at 23rd in the league per points per game and are barely above league average only in the corners.
With the highest number of three-point attempts per game, 34.1 3PA/G, the Rockets are somewhat struggling from beyond-the-arc with a below league average .345 percent (league average = .351). Furthermore, the Rockets’ offensive struggles from the free-throw line have resulted in their league-ninth free-throw attempts per game being almost useless.
Even with what could be the smartest offense in the league, it is mostly their defense which has led the Rockets into their current 21 – 9 record. Even without Howard the Rockets are allowing only 97.3 points per game, good enough for fifth in the league. With their offense scoring at a 100.3 point-per-game rate, even the slightest setback on defense could eradicate the Rockets’ chances by turning their plus-3.6 point differential (11th in the league; seventh in the Western Conference) and eventually give them a negative point differential which would logically spell “The Pursuit’s” demise.
Of course, leaving aside every one of the previous reasons that
will
could spell the Rockets’
inescapable
demise, they have played a rather tough schedule and have lived up to expectations — sometimes surpassed them — throughout it in a performance that has taken them two games better than their projected 19 – 10 expected win-loss.
Of course, having James Harden — arguably the league’s MVP — playing at such a high level should also help the Rockets keep their season alive.
Coming out of a 104-103 loss to the Wizards look for the Rockets to avenge a 104 – 103 loss to the Wizards once they match up against the struggling Charlotte Bobcats on Dec. 31 to close the year on a high note.