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Playoff Picture: Houston Rockets

By Luke Duffy

Feb 23, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) ,center Dwight Howard (12) forward Trevor Ariza (1) and guard Jason Terry (31) celebrate against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second half at Toyota Center. Rockets won 113 to 102. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 23, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) ,center Dwight Howard (12) forward Trevor Ariza (1) and guard Jason Terry (31) celebrate against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second half at Toyota Center. Rockets won 113 to 102. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 5, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) reacts after being called for a foul in action against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 5, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) reacts after being called for a foul in action against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

Verdict

It’s not that there’s something missing with this team, I just feel other teams are well equipped to shut them down. The Portland Trail Blazers dumped them out early last season, and while roster improvements were made, they have a certain predictability to them. Harden can absolutely go off and turn games into spectacles, but this team needs to have more than that to win a title.

If Howard shows glimpses of his Orlando self, then maybe this team can make the Conference finals. But I just don’t see this team having what they need in all of the right areas to win four seven games series and beat the Golden State Warriors along the way.

Looking to the future as well, it’s unclear how much more pieces can be chopped and changed to get this team over the top. But I guess that’s a discussion for another day. For now though, stick me down as a non-believer as this team bows out in the second round. Houston, we’ve hit a ceiling.

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