Rockets Fall Back to Earth, Far Below Season Expectations
“All those moments will be lost in time, like tears of rain” is one of the final lines in Ridley Scott’s seminal, innovative, 1982 science-fiction classic Blade Runner. Spoken by Batty (Rutger Hauer’s finest hour), the antagonist, before his death as he reflects on his experiences and imminent mortality, the line is part of one of the most moving soliloquys in film history. And if the Rockets want to start moving out of their current slump, they’ll need to take these words to heart. Last year was exciting and record setting, yet painful in the end. The Rockets need to forget about last season. It’s lost in time. We can look at all the glossy records and stats from last year but if the Rockets think they can sleepwalk their way into the playoffs this season, and then decide they want to play hard, they’re mistaken. This team is NOT last year’s team. Trevor Ariza isn’t walking through the door (not that I’ve heard of), even Luc Mbah Moute, who tailed off production-wise after a shoulder injury last year, is sorely missed early on this season. This year’s Western Conference is as savagely cannibalistic as ever. 14 of the 15 teams currently sit fighting for a playoff spot. This is unheard of in NBA history, even only a quarter into the season, with the Rockets currently sitting in 14th place, only above the Phoenix “full-rebuilding mode” Suns. Undoubtedly, some of these teams will slide, but the crowded race for the playoffs won’t get any easier as the season moves on. It’s still only November, yet we are officially a quarter of the way into the NBA season. 20 games in and the Houston Rockets’ roller-coaster start to the season has been the biggest disappointment in the NBA thus far. A ride that’s contained more lows than highs. The Rockets have a 9-11 record that places them in 14th place (yes, 14th) out of 15 teams in the West. Sure, the 5-game winning streak was nice, but the Rockets never really recovered from their 1-5 start. However, it’s all in the past. The Rockets need to, as cliché as it sounds, forget the past, and move forward. Whether they want to admit it or not, the Rockets are still suffering from a hangover, one Chris Paul even said they shouldn’t have, because they haven’t “won anything”. CP3 is right. But his body isn’t. And if he can’t get kick his annual injury bug soon, Houston will have a serious problem on its hands. The Rockets are still basking in the glory of setting a franchise-record 65 wins last season. Those 65 wins… they’re lost… in time. Sure, it’s was nice to win 65 games but when it doesn’t come with a ring, frankly, all those wins, they really don’t matter that much. At all. It was a nice accomplishment but the Rockets need to move forward and realize you don’t just get 65 wins returning mainly the same core roster. Yes, the Rockets have had injury problems. Chris Paul’s injury bug has hit sooner than expected, Nene, and Brandon Knight have yet to play in a game. Gerald Green is still out with an injury. Eric Gordon missed a few games. The biggest disappointment, in all of this, would be the lack of help the Beard is getting. James Harden, despite the Rockets struggles, and getting off to a slow start himself, is currently playing out of his mind, and some of the best basketball of his life. The Beard is in his prime. RIGHT NOW. He’s set records in the last two games and is visibly worn out by the end of games without CP3 on the floor and the lack of Houston’s depth on the bench. Trevor Ariza really was THAT important. His absence is felt on both ends of the floor as the Rockets could really use a catch and shoot perimeter player who isn’t hesitant on offense and plays hard every single possession on defense. P.J. Tucker can’t guard everyone. If he could, the Rockets would be Champions every year. P.J.’s defense is that good and underrated. Sometimes it seems like Tucker’s out there by himself trying to guard 5 opposing players as the rest of his teammates squander around the court trying to find their man or their proper switch assignment. Hopefully, the Rockets defensive guru Jeff Bzdelik is finally getting used to the new roster changes, as the squad has only been worse defensively since he rejoined the bench after Thanksgiving. New roster additions James Ennis III, rookies Gary Clark and Isaiah Hartenstein have been a few bright spots for the squad, but their lack of experience will surely show in the playoffs. Houston needs to ditch MCW, whose been plain awful, and find a veteran talented wing player who can help fill the gaping holes that are evident when watching the Rockets play. Brandon Knight and Nene have yet to play, the young rookies Clark and Hustlestein look like future role players at worst and are slowly developing their games, but there’s no more time for excuses. Or the 2018/2019 Season will be known as the “Season of Excuses”. We’re a quarter of the way into season. Soon, Act 1 of the 2018/2019 regular-season will be in the books. If the Rockets keep acting this way on the court (lack of defensive intensity, poor communication, a sense of entitlement they haven’t earned) don’t be surprised if in April they’re fighting for a playoff spot the last week of the regular season. Yes, they’ll be better when CP3 returns. Houston is 8-4 in the lineup this season when they both play. The problem is, Houston won’t have the opportunity to rest their stars for the playoffs, as they will be fighting for their playoff lives if they continue to play this style of basketball. With CP3 super injury-prone, the odds are he won’t be healthy for the full season. It just stacks the odds against the Rockets. But last year, no one thought The Beard and CP3 could play together effectively. And that turned out all right. They weren’t listening to everyone’s preseason expectations, they just went out and proved their games and styles of play could complement each other perfectly. This season, Houston needs to forget the fact that they won a franchise-record 65 wins, were the talk of the league, and got the #1 seed in the West last season. That’s all in the past. Last season is dead. Move on Red Nation. This season still has life. James Harden is yet again playing at an MVP-caliber level, the rest of the squad needs to follow his lead. Or this season could be… as Blade Runner’s villain says at the end… “time to die”.