If you follow me on twitter you know I was one of the pundits who foresaw the regression in Houston this season. In hindsight, it wasn’t much of a stretch given P.J. Tucker and Clint Capela were the only true above average defensive talents returning. How the Rockets let both Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute walk this summer is beyond me. I liken it to when the Mavericks won the championship and then did nothing to keep their core intact. Consequently, Dallas hasn’t been relevant since (although they are on the precipice of returning to the conversation).
Daryl Morey made a mistake by locking Houston into a long-term 4-year maximum contract with 33 (almost 34) year old Chris Paul. Particularly when Paul has a propensity to get hurt. He’s missed five games already in this campaign. Editor’s note: this was written prior to Paul’s hamstring injury versus the Heat – and now the Rockets will be without his services for the foreseeable future. Also of note: after last night the Rockets were 1-5 this season without CP3 in the lineup.
Their schedule gets particularly tough in the coming days, therefore winning has more onus on it than even when they were fighting to get above the playoff seeding bar. They move up this week following a solid week nine, but I expect them to fall back without Paul.
Houston Rockets:
Offensive Rating: 5th
Defensive Rating: 28th
Net Differential: 18th
Points per games: 108.9 (20th)
Offensive field goal efficiency: 45.1 percent (tied 21st)
Opponent points per game: 109.1 (12th)
Opponent field goal efficiency: 45.1 percent (21st)
3-Point percent: 34% (24th)
Opponent 3-point percent: 34.9% (12th)
Home: 7-5
Road: 7-9
Back to back sets: 5
Versus the East: 6-3
Versus the West: 8-11. 11th in WC
Week nine 3-0: Wins vs. Blazers, Lakers, @Grizzlies
On tap for week 10: Jazz, (B2B: Wizards, @Heat), Spurs