NBA Power Rankings: 2014-15 Western Conference Projections
By Shane Young
8. Houston Rockets — 49-33
Hardest month: April (.550)
Weakest month: November (.465)
Back-to-backs: 20
Give Daryl Morey the award for having the most twist and turns in one offseason, in the shortest period of time.
We could all but Photoshop Chris Bosh in a new red jersey, back in his home state of Texas. Morey was planning to sign the unrestricted free agent in Bosh to an $88 million contract once LeBron James decided to throw a homecoming parade.
Jeremy Lin had his heart broken during Carmelo Anthony‘s free agency meeting in Houston, and was ultimately shipped to Los Angeles to make room for a Bosh-Chandler Parsons dual signing. Neither worked to their benefit, and now Kevin McHale is left without a backup point guard that’s seen more than 14 minutes a game for a career.
Houston’s greatest strength has been how they control the pace and number of outside shot attempts — on both ends. They topped the league in 3-pointers made (9.5) and attempted (26.6) per game last season, while also allowing the fifth least triples (23) on average.
From what some believe could’ve been an upgrade at small forward when they lost Chandler Parsons to Dallas and gained Trevor Ariza, the Rockets tended to more 3-point shooting, and a defender that can take control of opposing perimeter players.
It’s not even the lack of secondary talent outside of the starters that diminishes Houston’s seeding from No. 4 to No. 8. It’s the corrupted chemistry, and type of leader James Harden and Dwight Howard have turned into for this team.
Actually, it’s the type of leaders they are … not the type they’ve just now become.
Hearing about their team camaraderie ethics and how much they are willing to work with the “role players,” it’s not something that can ever be ignored. Not eating with the team, one of the two publicly saying they’re the cornerstones, and their unassertive, playful attitudes could result in a weaker defense, and people not being on the same page.
It comes to McHale, who has received somewhat of a pass regarding how he preaches defense, only due to Harden’s effort being non-existent. Every other member put forth somewhat of a tough effort in ball pressure during the playoffs, except Harden.
What should be understood about the West in this context, though, is that a 54 win total (last season) dropping to 49 is only five games. Yet, thinking about a team’s seed taking this much of a hit will gain backlash. It’s the most profound testament of how easily one could miss the playoffs if there’s a bump in the road.