Houston Rockets: Assessing the rebuilt 2020-21 roster
A look at the bench for the Houston Rockets
The biggest name on Houston’s bench is Eric Gordon, who has flipped flopped between a starter and sixth man during his four years as a Rocket. Gordon already proved he can be the best bench player in the league when he won the 2016-17 Sixth Man of the Year Award.
What makes Gordon such a threat off the bench is that he can do a little bit of everything. He can handle the ball, finish at the rim, shoot from beyond the arc, and is an excellent defender. The biggest thing for Gordon is staying healthy and being consistent on a nightly basis because the 31-year old was incredibly inconsistent last season.
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Another big name off the Rockets bench is DeMarcus Cousins. The four-time All-Star was regarded as one of the NBA’s premier bigs before suffering a series of leg injuries that derailed his career.
But in the preseason, Cousins appeared healthy and in great shape, showing many glimpses of his former self. In three preseason games, Cousins averaged 10.33 points, including shooting 46.15 percent from 3-point range, pulled down 7.33 rebounds a game, and tallied six total steals.
Cousins will be a key piece for Houston if the Rockets are to go far because of his versatility as a big man and his ability to be a key scorer when called upon.