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Houston Rockets: 2016 Offseason Grades

By Gerald Bourguet

Jan 25, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) reacts after scoring against New Orleans Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson (33) during the fourth quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Rockets defeated the Pelicans 112-111. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 25, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) reacts after scoring against New Orleans Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson (33) during the fourth quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Rockets defeated the Pelicans 112-111. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Houston Rockets
Apr 12, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) tries to knock the ball away from New Orleans Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson (33) during the second quarter at the Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

Overall

The Rockets made some splashy moves this summer, but they were “splashy” the same way that throwing a pebble into a rushing river technically makes a splash, but does nothing to change the unstoppable current from sweeping it along in the same direction.

On the defensive end, last year’s 21st ranked unit just got even worse. Dwight Howard is gone, and though Capela has the makings of a stout rim protector and defensive anchor, he’s not there yet at age 22.

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Throw Anderson’s rigidity and Gordon’s ailing body into a mix that already included Harden’s frequent lapses and you’ve got one of the most porous defenses in the NBA.

The offense, however, should be hard to stop, especially if Anderson and Gordon both play around 65 games. Despite not having very many efficient three-point weapons last year, Harden still dragged that group to a top-10 offensive rating, and having Anderson and Gordon to spread the defense and knock down open looks will only help matters.

The truth, however, is that Houston is only as good as James Harden wants them to be. Will he step up again as a leader like he did in 2014-15, putting in effort on the defensive end and empowering his teammates to make good on this gaudy extension? Or will he be the same defensively lazy, uncharismatic stat sheet stuffer he was in 2015-16?

With the Rockets putting all their chips in the middle and betting on a high-powered offense making up for what will be a miserable defense, the onus is on Harden to bring all the pieces together and somehow make this work.

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Perhaps we’ll all be proven wrong, but this strategy of trading any modicum of defense for offense doesn’t appear to be a very sound one. Unless Harden has an MVP-caliber season again, the Rockets may struggle to even make the playoffs following a fairly underwhelming offseason.

Grade: C

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