2014-15 Houston Rockets Preview
Then, in July of 2013, the Rockets landed the big fish in the free-agent pool – Dwight Howard. He is an eight-time All-Star, eight-time All-NBAer and three- time Defensive Player of the Year.
And, in the summer of 2014, Houston struck out … badly.
As is General Manager Daryl Morey’s M.O., the Rockets sold almost any asset they possibly could in order to free up cash. LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony were the pie in the sky goals, but one name kept coming up as a realistic possibility.
Chris Bosh.
The talented forward, deemed overrated by some and underrated by others, became the primary target for Morey and the Rockets. Houston shipped off very capable players in Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik to free up as much money as possible to lure Bosh from South Beach.
Once James announced he was returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers, it seemed almost like a foregone conclusion that Bosh would take Houston’s four-year, $88 million offer. He could go there and be the stretch four the Rockets have coveted, plus Bosh would have a better chance at another ring with Houston than a LeBron-less Heat.
Didn’t happen.
Bosh took a huge offer to stay in Miami and the Rockets were left at the altar.
To compound the Rockets’ woes, long-time rivals, the Dallas Mavericks swooped in and offered Chandler Parsons a three-year, $46 million deal. Houston didn’t match the high offer and all of a sudden, the Rockets took a major hit.
“Once Bosh said ‘no’ it put us into another very difficult decision of, is matching Chandler Parsons, do we have a better chance of winning a title by matching it or not matching it,” Morey told SportsRadio 610. “That was the very tough decision before us. But I can tell you this, in our opinion it was not close. We are in a better (place) to win a championship by not matching it, once Bosh goes away, than by not matching it.”
There’s no way to spin this offseason as a positive for the Rockets. Three huge pieces from last season’s 54-win team are elsewhere (all in the Western Conference).
To compensate, the Rockets brought in free-agent small-forward Trevor Ariza in a sign-and-trade deal. (They also got a protected 2015 first-round pick from the New Orleans Pelicans.)
He’s long been an underrated talent, known primarily for his defense and athleticism. In last season’s playoffs, while a member of the Washington Wizards, Ariza shot a sterling 45 percent from long range.
Ariza will help defensively. Despite Howard’s mantle overflowing with defensive accolades, the Rockets ranked 23rd in opponents’ scoring last season.
The bench is weaker than years past, although a late offseason trade for Jason Terry was a solid move.
The Rockets’ approach over recent years has been to stock up on stars, or at least pursue stocking up on stars. Their runner-up finish for Bosh might actually be a blessing. That strategy has amassed regular-season wins, but minimal playoff success.
Perhaps, by building through sensible business decisions, like adding a scrappy, intangible player like Ariza, the Rockets can flourish even more.
That remains to be seen. If a new philosophy like that were to occur, it would take time to play itself out.
Until then, the Summer of ’14 was not kind to the Rockets. That should reflect in the standings.
2013-14 Results: 54-28, 2nd in Southwest; Lost in West quarterfinals to Portland
ADDITIONS: F Trevor Ariza, G Jason Terry, F Jeff Adrien, G Ish Smith, C Joey Dorsey, F Kostas Papanikolaou
PROJECTED STARTING FIVE:
PG- Patrick Beverley SG- James Harden SF- Trevor Ariza PF- Terrence Jones C- Dwight Howard
KEY RESERVES: G Jason Terry, F Francisco Garcia, G Isaiah Canaan, F Jeff Adrien, F/C Donatas Motiejunas, F Kostas Papanikolaou
FRONTCOURT: Howard was worth the money for the Rockets last season. He averaged 18.3 points, 12.2 rebounds (fourth in the NBA) and 1.8 blocks (seventh).
He improved the Rockets’ defense, albeit marginally. Howard never clicked while playing alongside Asik, which ended Houston’s huge frontline experiment.
But Howard was still dynamic. He shot 59 percent from the field and his minutes per game average was the lowest since his rookie season back in 2004-05. He is still the league’s best center, although he probably can’t claim to be the best defensive one any longer.
Ariza has been on a lot of teams, but in his last five seasons, he’s averaged double-figures in four of them. (The lone exception was 9.5 ppg in 2012-13.) Last season, Ariza shot 46 percent from the field and 41 percent from long range. He’s a really under-valued talent and his professionalism, proclivity for defense and athleticism will come in handy. Health is always an issue with Ariza.
Jones will be in his third season from Kentucky. He started 71 games last season and produced very nicely. Jones’ numbers of 12.1 points and 6.9 rebounds were pleasant surprises, as was his 54 percent shooting from the floor. He can shoot from the perimeter and he might benefit from the departures of Asik, Lin and Parsons. Jones is a sleeper candidate for a highly-improved season. Someone has to step up, right?
BACKCOURT: Harden was a First-Team All-NBA guard last season and has cemented his status as the game’s best shooting guard. He’s a top scorer at 25.4 ppg last season, but he’s also an elite playmaker, averaging 6.1 assists, a career high. The bearded one shot a respectable 46 percent from the floor and 37 percent from deep.
Harden has flaws. He’s arguably the worst defensive player in the NBA, so bad that Youtube clips have been created to highlight his porous play at that end of the floor.
But Harden is there to score and make plays. That play-making is going to be huge this season considering Lin is now a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. Harden’s long-range shooting will have to increase in the absence of Parsons.
Beverley is a high-motor, defensive-minded point guard. He made the All- Defensive Second Team last season, when he wrestled the starting job away from Lin. Beverley scored a modest 10.2 ppg last season, but those numbers should go up as the bench should be less productive.
BENCH: Terry is a former Sixth Man of the Year winner, who hasn’t produced in two seasons. He went to Boston to help the Big Three at the end of their run, but didn’t make significant waves. Last season was almost a total wash in Brooklyn, then he got traded to Sacramento and didn’t play a second because of a knee injury. He’s 37 and clearly his best days are in the rear view mirror. Terry will be the bench scorer for this group, but it’s fair to question if he still has anything left. If he does, good trade for the Rockets. If not, Houston’s bench is in the weeds.
Garcia re-signed in the offseason and is a guy who can shoot, defend and agitate. He’s a solid role player and head coach Kevin McHale will have to rely heavier on him with this depleted second unit.
It’s getting to be now or never for Motiejunas. In his third season, he hasn’t made a huge splash, but he hasn’t had a huge opportunity. At his size, with his shooting ability, he could be a real asset.
Papanikolaou is coming over from Greece this season. He makes quite a bit of money for a former second-round pick, but he’s been a winner overseas. Papanikolaou is supposedly a decent shooter, but isn’t much of an athlete.
Canaan’s rookie season last year was nondescript.
Smith has bounced around more than a super ball on an airplane runway.
The rest of the bench is second-round projects.
COACHING: McHale’s seat is getting warmer and warmer. The expectations should be tempered a bit this season, considering how much the Rockets have lost, but this team, with its superstars, was expected to at least contend for the Western Conference.
McHale should always get credit since this style of play completely flies in the face of what type of player he was. McHale was a defensive guy with ballerina-like footwork on the interior. This team is run and gun, although more defensive pieces have been added over time. In fact, excluding Harden and his comically inept approach to defense, the main part of the roster is pretty talented on that side of the ball.
A bad season could spell the end for McHale. Having two of the league’s best players should send the Rockets out of the first round. Hasn’t happened yet under his watch, so McHale needs a good start.
OUTLOOK: No team can overcome the losses the Rockets suffered this offseason.
Parsons, Lin and Asik accounted for 34.9 points, 16.0 rebounds and 8.6 assists a night last season. That’s massive production out the door. They were heavy rotation guys as well.
Any team with Harden and Howard should do fine. The roster shake up should boast better defensive efficiency. Houston will be competitive, certainly, but hosting a playoff series may be too high a reach.
McHale is in jeopardy if this team doesn’t start producing meaningful runs in the postseason. It’s hard to see that with this roster. Two superstars is great, but a team that won 54 games a season ago can’t just plug in random pieces and expect that same victory total.
Houston could be one of the most disappointing teams in the league, especially if you consider where it was one year ago.
Categorized in: NBA
Tags: Houston, Houston Rockets, Rockets