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Houston Rockets: The New Villains Of The NBA

By Mauricio Putz

Mar 7, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) reacts during the second half against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. The Rockets won 114-100. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) reacts during the second half against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. The Rockets won 114-100. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /
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It only took forming a Big Three to turn a rather likeable Miami Heat squad into arguably one of the most important/impactful villains in NBA’s recent history. After four years of villainy from the Miami Heat, the Houston Rockets took their spot as the NBA’s newest villain once LeBron James went back home during the offseason.

Today, it’s the Houston Rockets turn to step to the plate.

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Somehow, even though they landed one of the most disliked start in the NBA in Dwight Howard back in the 2013 offseason, it took a year for the Houston Rockets to steal the Heat’s title and really join the likes of the 2001-02 Los Angeles Lakers, 1995-96 Chicago Bulls and 1997-98 Utah Jazz as one of the most despised teams in league history.

Now that the Houston Rockets are in “us against them” terms against the rest of the league, will they live up to the hype?

It seems that being hated around the NBA — and the “us against them” mentality that comes with — ends up catapulting teams into greatness. Six out of Bleacher Report’s Top-10 Most Hated Teams of All Time* have won a championship. Four have lost in the Finals. And only three have failed to reach the NBA Finals.

Screen Shot 2015-03-16 at 7.29.12 PM
Screen Shot 2015-03-16 at 7.29.12 PM /

A tough task for the stagnant Houston Rockets.

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2 Houston Rockets international players that never played a single minute
2 Houston Rockets international players that never played a single minute /

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    • Even through one of their most successful seasons in recent memory, the Houston Rockets have managed to obtain, so far, fourth place in the Western Conference with a point differential of plus-3.1. Of course, not the greatest of signs when your title pursuit and deep playoff run go through one of the most competitive Western Conferences ever.

    Offensively, the Houston Rockets, although not the high-octane offense they were last season in which they scored at a 107.7 point per game rate, are still seventh in the league in per game scoring with 103 points per game.

    Also, with the smartest offense in the league, the Houston Rockets live and die by two things; the three-point and the free-throw. The Rockets are taking a league-leading 33.5 three-point attempts per game and making only 34.3-percent of them, good enough for 17th in the NBA. From the line, they take 24.7 shots per game, and making a 27th-in-the-NBA 71.9-percent of them.

    Defensively, the Houston Rockets allow seven points more on the road than they do at home. Also, after holding opponents to 91.5 and 93 points per game during October and November, respectively, their defense has allowed 102.1, 102.5, 103 and 101.8 points per game in December, January, February and March, respectively.

    The Houston Rockets have managed to be successful with the previous offensive issue for the better part of the season. However, if they’re looking to make an impactful playoff run and reach the much desired NBA championship, their defense needs to stop regressing.

    After barely overcoming the struggling Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday — who also happen to be arguably the second most hated team of the ongoing season — it’s still unclear if the Houston Rockets will ever amass the power needed to make the deep playoff run they’ll need to fulfil their “pursuit.”

    *Note: I know it’s a Top-10 but I’m also accounting for their three “Honorable Mentions.”

    Next: D-Mo: The Big Man the Rockets Needed

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