Houston Rockets: 2018-19 NBA Season Preview
By Justin Rowan
Best-case scenario
Even with the unprecedented amount of talent the Warriors have, sustained greatness is one of the toughest things to do in the NBA. Fighting complacency is a struggle and the introduction of Demarcus Cousins could cause some hiccups.
The Rockets don’t necessarily need injuries or major breaks to beat the Warriors. However, any best-case scenario for this season starts with Golden State not reaching their potential. If everything goes perfectly for them, their ceiling is too high for any team to overcome.
If they are not playing to their potential, then the Rockets will need to be there to capitalize.
The Rockets will need both Harden and Paul to be healthy, plus playing at their respective ceilings. The team will also need to look for opportunities to improve their roster throughout the season.
They have been connected to Jimmy Butler in trade talks, and even if they don’t land another star, getting a player like DeMarre Carroll or Trevor Ariza would go a long way.
If the new additions can fit in, the stars play at their ceiling and they get a few breaks along the way, this team could win the 2019 NBA championship.
Worst-case scenario
If the Rockets season truly falls apart, things have the potential to get ugly.
The amount of talent the team has gives them a high floor, but it also comes with high expectations. If Paul and Harden fall apart physically, the team could struggle to create offensively.
It’s possible that the addition of Carmelo Anthony comes with a headache that causes rifts in the team, and that their defense takes a meaningful step back from last season.
What would make matters worse is if other teams start to pass the Rockets by. The Utah Jazz look to be a young up-and-coming team in the West and if they pass the Rockets this season, the franchise could potentially need to look at the possibility of a major makeover.
Being locked into a core that isn’t good enough to get by the Warriors is one thing, but other teams passing them by would be a truly devastating blow. If Harden and Paul both start regressing in a meaningful way, the Rockets will need to change a lot moving forward.