Everyone’s favorite basketball video game is out once again as NBA 2K18 was released on Friday. How do the Houston Rockets rate in the game?
It’s that time of year again. Everyone’s favorite basketball video game has dropped its “2K18” version. That’s right, we’re here to talk about NBA 2K18. And more specifically, we’re going to take a look at the player ratings for the Houston Rockets.
Now that they’ve added Chris Paul (and a slew of defenders), the Rockets will be a team of choice for many gamers. They’ve got two of the greatest playmakers and point guards in the NBA, numerous shooters surrounding them, quality big men and countless defenders. That combination makes for a deadly team in both real life and on the sticks.
With that being said, let’s analyze the player ratings for Houston in this year’s version of the game, looking for players that are potentially overrated or underrated.
Player ratings:
- James Harden – 95
- Chris Paul – 91
- Eric Gordon – 80
- Clint Capela – 79
- Trevor Ariza – 78
- Ryan Anderson – 78
- Nene – 77
- Luc Mbah a Moute – 76
- P.J. Tucker – 76
- Tarik Black – 73
- Troy Williams – 71
- Zhou Qi – 69
- Chinanu Onuaku – 69
- Isaiah Taylor – 68
- Demetrius Jackson – 68
- Tim Quarterman – 67
Right off the bat you may notice that Bobby Brown is missing from the roster. He should join the roster in the game’s first update and be rated around a 70.
Space City Scoop
For the most part, the Rockets are a top-heavy team, with two star players rated 91 or above, followed by a slew of players rated anywhere from 76-80. It’s nice to see players such as Mbah a Moute, Nene and P.J. Tucker get a rating boost from last year’s game as (mostly) defensive role players are often overlooked in NBA 2K.
With that being said, there are some ratings that can be improved/changed to more accurately reflect the player’s value.
Overrated players
It’s hard to argue that any player on the Rockets is overrated in 2K. The closest player would be Ryan Anderson, who actually received a slight rating boost up to a 78.
Anderson’s elite shooting and floor-spacing is crucial for the Rockets’ offense, but when he isn’t hitting his shots (like during the 2017 NBA Playoffs) he can be an extreme liability. His defense is very poor and his rebounding has significantly decreased in recent seasons, essentially making him a one-trick pony.
It’s interesting that his rating improved in 2K18, but it would be fair to knock him down to a 76 or 77.
Underrated players
Two players come to mind when discussing the players that 2K underrated this year. First is Eric Gordon. The reigning Sixth Man of the Year checks in at 80, which is a solid rating before you realize it is the same rating that rookies Lonzo Ball and Markelle Fultz have.
More from Hoops Habit
- 7 Players the Miami Heat might replace Herro with by the trade deadline
- Meet Cooper Flagg: The best American prospect since LeBron James
- Are the Miami Heat laying the groundwork for their next super team?
- Sophomore Jump: 5 second-year NBA players bound to breakout
- NBA Trades: The Lakers bolster their frontcourt in this deal with the Pacers
Now, Fultz and Ball are two of the most hyped rookies in recent memory, but they shouldn’t be the same rating as Gordon, who has established himself as an elite shooter and secondary playmaker.
Gordon should really be up around 82, and if he can stay healthy and repeat his early season success from last year he may very well hit that rating in the near future.
The second player is Clint Capela. The rim-running, shot-blocking Swiss big man checks in at a 79, but he is another Houston player that should be in the low 80s. Capela struggles in certain matchups (see the first round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder), but excels in others. He dominated in the second round of the playoffs last season, and with Chris Paul in town Capela should take another jump.
Capela is poised for a breakout season, and if that does indeed happen his rating will surely jump into the low 80s alongside Gordon.
Next: Complete 2017 NBA offseason grades for all 30 teams
In the end, the Rockets have a balanced roster of playmakers, shooters, big men and quality defenders. Because of this, they will be a popular team of choice for many gamers looking to take-down the virtual Golden State Warriors.