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Houston Rockets: Role Players Are Key For Title Pursuit

By Mauricio Putz

Apr 15, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets players huddle before a game against the Utah Jazz at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 15, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets players huddle before a game against the Utah Jazz at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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After missing a career-high 41 games of the regular season, Dwight Howard seems to be as healthy as he’s been all year. Nevertheless, it was without Howard that the Houston Rockets put themselves in a position that allowed them to lock into the coveted Western Conference second seed with a Game 82 win over the Utah Jazz.*

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It was also without Howard that the Houston Rockets emerged as one of the most dominant defenses in the league. For the 2013-14 season, the Houston Rockets had the 12th-best defensive rating in the league, 103.1, whereas, for the 2014-15 season, they jumped all the way into the top 10 with the sixth-best defensive rating in the league, 100.5.

Dwight Howard was able to return to the court two games before the season came to an end. Nevertheless, his impact on the Houston Rockets’ season-long success was almost nil.

So, if not for Howard, who — besides James Harden, obviously — is should be held responsible for the Houston Rockets’ 54-28 season? And more importantly, who needs to step up for the Houston Rockets during the playoffs?

1. Josh Smith

Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

In arguably one of the most impressive/ballsiest moves of the 2014-15 season, the Detroit Pistons abruptly decided to waive Josh Smith from their roster. Impressive because, even though Smith had failed to live up to the expectations that came with a four-year, $54 million contract, no one could’ve seen this coming.

Ballsy because by waiving him, even if another team would pick up Smith, the Detroit Pistons would still be in the hole for $13.5 million this year and roughly $27 million over the next five years — $5.4-million per year.

In an effort to increase their depth, and bring reinforcements to an already injury-riddled team, the Houston Rockets jumped all over Josh Smith as he joined injured bff Dwight Howard.

Exactly four months after joining the Rockets, Smith has been a much-needed breath of fresh air for the team. And even though he’s barely scratched the surface of his former Atlanta Hawks days, Smith only trails James Harden in usage percentage within the organization — 24.5 and 31.3, respectively.**

During his short tenure with the 2014-15 Rockets, Josh Smith’s numbers have not exactly jumped through the roof, however, he’s been a great second banana to James Harden’s masterful play for the entire season.

In 55 games with the Rockets, Josh Smith has averaged a pretty solid 12.0 points per game in .489/.330/.521 shooting off the bench — he only started seven games. Pair him up with James Harden’s 27.9 points per game, and the duo is responsible for 38.4 percent of the Houston Rockets’ total points per game.

2. Tr3vor Trevor Ariza

To fulfil their #Pursuit, the Houston Rockets desperately needed to improve on the wings. As a team hoping to develop a Spurs-like “pace and space” offensive scheme, the Houston Rockets needed someone that could spread the defense and open lanes for James Harden and Dwight Howard to attack the rim.

After failing to reach a deal with Miami Heat frontman Chris Bosh, Trevor Ariza was summoned from the Washington Wizards to fill the space.

Upon arrival, Trevor “I’m-at-my-best-during-contract-years” Ariza immediately provided the Houston Rockets with the offensive weapon they needed on the wing.

The Houston Rockets led the league in three-point attempts with 2,680, and three-point shots made, with 933 — 32.7 and 11.4 per game, respectively.

Shotchart_1429743838611
Shotchart_1429743838611 /

By attempting 6.8 three-point shots per game, and making 2.4 of them, Trevor Ariza was directly responsible for 21 percent of the three-point shots made by the Houston Rockets during their record-setting season. Ariza and Harden are directly responsible for roughly 43 percent of the three-point shots made by the 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 though James Harden and Dwight Howard are the leaders, cornerstones, and ultimately the players who’ll dictate how far the team goes into the playoffs, the Houston Rockets are at their best when every single player on their roster knows their respective role and performs accordingly.

    Therefore, it is only through a collective team effort and overall performance that the Houston Rockets will eventually put themselves in a position to seize the success they’ve had for the regular-season and turn it into the third NBA Championship in franchise history.

    Honorable Mentions: Corey Brewer (56 games – 11.9 ppg – .503/.284/.764 shooting); Terrence Jones (33 games – 11.7 ppg – .553/.351/.606 shooting).

    *The San Antonio Spurs lost to the New Orleans Pelicans which punched the Pellies’ playoff-ticket and dropped the Spurs all the way down to the sixth-seed. 

    **Players with at least 50 games played.

    Next: Rockets: A Hypothetical Playoff Rundown

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