Season Preview: Houston Rockets

Last Season: 65-17 (1st in the West)

Key Additions: Carmelo Anthony and James Ennis

Projected Starters: Chris Paul, James Harden, Eric Gordon, PJ Tucker, Clint Capela

Last season was the best regular season in Rockets franchise history, in large part due to the addition of Chris Paul in combination with the ascension of Clint Capela and the identity stapling presence of PJ Tucker. The Rockets were under a microscope of national magnitude all season, and they did not disappoint. In fact, the far exceeded the many predictions casted upon them. Most had the team around 57-59 wins and finishing well behind Golden State, and the Rockets used that as fuel (no pun intended) to thrust them forward. The team enjoyed 3 separated double-digit win streaks all the while enduring injuries to players in their top 8. If that was not enough to wow you, Houston was 43-3 when the Paul-Harden-Capela trio all played. That is unheard of! Capela is not considered a top tier talent, but his presence combined with his activity and energy make him the perfect compliment to all that their two Hall of Fame guards bring to the table. Their playmaking even rubbed off on Capela as he grew into making timely secondary passes after receiving the initial pass from Paul or Harden, which was vital versus the Warriors in the playoffs. Although they lost in game 7 with a trip to the Finals on the line, there is plenty of merit behind the feeling in Houston that they can not only get back to game 7 of the conference finals, but also win that game and get a chance at the Larry O'Brien trophy. The way things were trending with Chris Paul healthy, they would have had 2 games to knock the champs out and his impact on the series made it very believable that they would do it.

One Phrase for the Rockets 2018-2019 Season: Run It Back

This has been the taken on mantra by Chris Paul, Clint Capela, and even GM Daryl Morey, and it is very fitting for where they stand moving forward. They did lose individual defensive talents in Luc Mbah a Moute and Trevor Ariza, but the Rockets were not over-reliant on either for production. They were great defensively and Ariza was a sniper (outside of the playoffs where he was a putrid .286% from 3). This teams defense, however, is far far far more system-oriented than individual defenders. It was a collective effort that got them to the 6th best defense last year. Replacing Ariza and Mbah a Moute with James Ennis, a younger, more athletic, and better ball handling wing, is great. I do not feel the Rockets will suffer in any way from losing the two aforementioned wings from last season. Also, having Carmelo Anthony off the bench and playing the minutes that Ryan Anderson once owned, is an added plus as well. Melo looked great in the pre-season and did nothing that he cannot be expected to replicate when things begin to count tonight. They should be at or near their numbers from last season as a collective unit. Their starting line-up will be more fluid if records prove to be true from Coach D'Antoni. Essentially, that small forward slot should be match-up dependent where versus smaller teams Gordon will start, and versus teams like the Warriors, Lakers, Thunder, James Ennis will get the start.

Carmelo Anthony and James Ennis

These two will undoubtedly be key cogs for Houston this season. Carmelo, an all-time great scorer, will be expected to fill it up as the primary option in the second unit, likely positioning himself for a sixth man of the year award should he perform to expectations. Even the most casual fan knows exactly what Carmelo brings to the table. He will be accepting of his newfound role, and should be rather successful in that reinventing of himself. Winning will always help make these things easier, and in Houston, he will do just that. Ennis, on the other hand, will have his impact be most effective in three areas. Defensively, in transition, and from the corners. Ennis is known league-wide for his activity in the passing lanes and one on one defensively. He even got a co-sign from Houston's defensive anchor PJ Tucker when the team was considering bringing in Ennis. He as that scrappy, pit bull like energy about him that will most definitely complement the efforts of Tucker and Paul on that end. He admittedly says he loves defense and is a defensive player, which both showed in abundance throughout the pre-season contests. Secondly, Ennis was one of the most effective players in transition last season. He is one of the best at changing ends of the floor. Whether it is finishing at the basket, or even just handling the ball on kick ahead passes (which became a staple for the Rockets as their defensive activity picked up deeper into the season last year). His 6'7 frame with a wide wingspan will allow for him to be ever-present in Houston's ever-switching defensive system. Ennis is a career .359% shooter from 3, and the lightly contested surplus of 3's he will shoot playing opposite of Paul and Harden should allow for him to enjoy a career best season from deep. He will prove to be one, if not the best unspoken of off-season acquisition. Much like how Mbah A Moute was before he separated his shoulder. The league will be put on notice as James Ennis fits right in for the Rockets.

Point of Focus: Health and Fatigue Management

Less x's and o's this season for Coach D'Antoni and more so micromanaging the minutes and games played for his top players throughout the 82 game grind will be the vital. We have all seen what they can do when healthy, and they have cemented themselves in the top tier of teams on the same level (or maybe a half step behind them). There is no worry about the second tier teams in the West, as none of them have the continuity or fire power to truly worry Houston. Keeping everyone healthy and as fresh as possible ahead of April will be the focus, and that should even go for the league MVP James Harden as much as it does for Chris Paul. Getting back to game 7 and doing so healthy is the best case scenario for Houston.

Prediction: A top two seed in the West with a 63-19

Over the summer, Warriors majority owner Joe Lacob, along with multiple other players and coaches amongst their team mentioned that Houston was undoubtedly the biggest threat and challenger they have faced in their current run. Houston will get right back to that and meet the Warriors in the Conference Finals for another great series. This time, Houston will get to that opportunity to advance to the finals healthy, whole, and as hungry as ever, and make it happen. Becoming the 2018-2019 NBA Champions.

Sidenote

I do not feel like this is the roster the Rockets will take into the playoffs. Last year they went past the deadline quiet, but this year I feel like they will use the contracts of Marquis Chriss, Brandon Knight, and some of their other young talents to piece together a trade to bring in one final solid piece. That could be Jimmy Butler, or another name that may come up and be of solid value for the Rockets. Keep an eye on this moving forward as GM Daryl Morey is always looking to improve the roster whether it seems risky or is out of the blue. His track record is one that could very well position him as the best roster builder in the league. He surely will not remain quiet as the season moves along.