The Rocketssey: 2019/2020 Houston Rockets Season Preview

The Rocketssey:  2019/2020 Houston Rockets Season Preview

Open Season.    Mirror Images.    Kings of LA.   

“Is it just me, or is it getting crazier out there?”, Arthur Fleck asks in Joker, the year’s most controversial film. One that made me think of the current NBA landscape: absolute craziness. The Free Agency period, the China tweet, unforeseen league parity. This year marks the most anticipated season in the James Harden era of Houston Rockets basketball. Why? In what turned out to be the craziest offseason in NBA history, the Houston Rockets made arguably the most controversial move: snagging Russell Westbrook from the Oklahoma City Thunder. Tonight, the squad begins their 53rd season in franchise history, embarking on their third mission to win a title. And with the addition of Westbrook, the Rockets have their best chance to win it all since the title days of the mid-90’s. It’s Open Season in the NBA this year. A title’s up for grabs. And for the first time in what seems like forever, there is no clear-cut favorite. No dynasty trying to repeat. Only fresh faces in new places… eager to compete.

The Toronto Raptors lifted the trophy back in June. October’s finally here, and the NBA’s seen a vast amount of change. Comparable to a summer game of musical chairs, many of the league’s stars moved to different locales. During a crazy offseason, the league underwent the most roster changes in NBA history, and saw 72% of eligible free agents switch teams. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George teamed up with the Clippers. Anthony Davis joined LeBron and the Lakers. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving aligned with the Nets in Brooklyn. Kemba Walker travelled up to Boston to fill Kyrie’s void for the Celtics. Jimmy Butler cruised down to South Beach, for a new start with the Heat. And, the Rockets traded Chris Paul and his behemoth of a contract, for Russell Westbrook. Power balanced near the top, leaving promise for the pretenders whose time will come. By adding Westbrook, the Rockets are in position to overrun the “favorites” in LA for the title.

Unlike the Clippers or Lakers, the core of Houston’s roster has been together for the past few playoff runs. P.J. Tucker, Clint Capela, Eric Gordon, Danuel House Jr., Austin Rivers, Nene, Gary Clark, and Isaiah Hartenstein are all returning for the Rockets, along with James Harden of course. Unfortunately, Gerald Green is expected to miss the entirety of the season with a broken foot. The Green Light’s absence will be a blow to the second unit, but shouldn’t derail the Rockets from their championship expectations. New additions for Houston include the return of Ryan Anderson and new signees Tyson Chandler, Thabo Sefolosha, Ben McLemore, Michael Frazier, and Chris Clemons. The Rockets were unable to resign Kenneth Faried, but Chandler’s presence in the frontcourt should help fill that void. Chandler and Sefolosha are savvy veterans who bring even more grit and experience to Houston’s roster. And then there’s Russell Westbrook.

The Rockets are getting a former MVP, and legitimate superstar who’s in the midst of his prime. A player whose motivated himself since high school with the mantra of “why not?” Westbrook is coming off his third straight season averaging a triple-double. Russ brings an unparalleled energy level to the floor the Rockets sorely need. Houston boasts one of the league’s oldest rosters, but the squad’s familiarity with each other gives them an advantage over teams that have to adjust to new pieces and build chemistry. Russell will take some time fitting in to Coach Mike D’Antoni’s “the 3 is the key” offense. However, Harden and Westbrook, childhood friends from Los Angeles, have plenty of history together. In Oklahoma City they took the Thunder to the Finals with Kevin Durant. Now teammates in Houston, the Beard and Brodie aren’t the players they were in OKC, they’re even better. Harden and Westbrook’s bond make the Rockets one of the best bets to win the championship this year, in what’s lined up to be the NBA’s Season of Duos. LeBron and AD with the Lakers. Kawhi and PG with the Clippers. Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid in Philly. Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis in Dallas. So, what makes Harden and Westbrook different? Everything.

“One thing I have learned is that you and I are opposites, but also just the same. Like an image in a mirror. We hate people. And they in turn hate us. And fear us.” I couldn’t help but think of Harden and Westbrook when hearing this quote from Peaky Blinders, the British show that’s evolving into a phenomenon. James Harden and Russell Westbrook, so similar yet so different, have slowly evolved into phenomenons in front of our eyes. Mirror images, or not? Both grew up in LA, and both weren’t highly scouted in high school, unlike many of today’s NBA superstars. Each overcame adversity to get to this point. Harden was just supposed to be a role player with a beard. Now he’s evolved into arguably the best offensive player basketball’s ever seen with the Beard. The thought of a player pulling an Oscar Robertson (averaging a triple-double in a season) in this era was unthinkable, until Westbrook accomplished that very feat… for the past three seasons. The Beard and Brodie are the league’s most eclectic pair of fashionistas. Both are known for entering arenas with creative outfits, many times outlandish, but always innovative and unique, like their style of play on the floor.

At age 30, both are genuine superstars in their prime. Both have been isolation dominant players (look for this to change slightly this season). However similar their styles of play, the Beard and Brodie bring different tangibles of force to be reckoned with. Harden, a creative offensive juggernaut and free throw assailant, has mastered the art of “getting any shot at any time” that he wants. Westbrook, a relentless triple-double machine, plays every single game like it’s his last. Russell is arguably the hardest playing professional in the league (along with P.J. Tucker). The kind of guy who irritates you in a pickup game by taking it too seriously, when you’re just trying to play around. Westbrook doesn’t play around. His exerted energetic force should fit comparably with Harden’s more laconic, hypnotizing style of play. Where Harden is more patient, Westbrook is more aggressive, in terms of overall play. You don’t accidentally average a triple-double for three seasons in a row. Only a heightened level of talent, energy, and effort can accomplish what Westbrook has done the past three years.

Despite all this, the Rockets superstar pair seems to inspire more hostility than any other superstars in the league. Performing feats others cannot evokes feelings of jealousy, and hatred. James Harden’s ability to score at will, misinterpreted as someone who cheats the game by his creative ability to draw fouls. Russell Westbrook’s ability to get a triple-double seemingly every game, only to be seen as “stat-padding”, and not the result of extraordinary effort. You don’t have to like Harden and Westbrook. The league’s best duo will elicit fear out of their opponents, and hate out of their opponent’s fans. You’re welcome to get on the Hate Bandwagon. It will only fuel Houston’s superstars toward reaching that elusive title that seems closer than ever this season.

With Harden and Westbrook, the Rockets now have two of the past three MVP’s on the same roster. Something that will elicit jealousy across the league, once the two really start gelling on the court. Houston’s been knocked out of the playoffs by the Golden State Warriors four out of the past five years. However, this Warriors dynasty, has finally come to an end. Kevin Durant jettisoned to the Brooklyn Nets. Klay Thompson will miss the entire season. Valuable, veteran role pieces like Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston have parted ways. As a result, Golden State is no longer the biggest threat for Houston.

All the talk this offseason has been about the Lakers and Clippers in Los Angeles. Both teams will be improved, but Houston’s PHEC (PJ Tucker, Harden, Eric Gordon, Clint Capela) core has been together the longest of any Championship contender entering this season. Harden and Westbrook’s past experience playing together will shorten Russell’s adjustment period fitting into Coach Mike D’Antoni’s system. The only real title threat out East are the Sixers. Malcolm Brogan’s departure from Milwaukee will drop them out of contention. Look for the Pacers to be sleepers in the East, but Philly has more talent and experience for a Finals run. If the Rockets want to get back to the Finals for the first time since 1995, it won’t be easy, but it’s more than a possibility.

The Western Conference is better than ever, from top to bottom. Utah, Portland, Denver (all rising teams in the West) improved this offseason, along with the Battle for Los Angeles. A poll was released taken by NBA GM’s on who they expected to win the NBA title. The Clippers and Lakers had the most votes. And while the Battle for LA might determine something, maybe a renewed rivalry by the Hollywood franchises, don’t expect it to determine an NBA Champion. Anthony Davis cannot make it through a full season healthy, and LeBron James is finally starting to show signs that he’s human. The Clippers will be the Rockets biggest threat to the crown, and the only team I see with a chance to beat Houston in a playoff series. Harden and Westbrook, the real kings of LA, have reunited down south in Texas. The best two players in the league without a ring. The hungriest of all duos. If they can stay healthy, look for Houston’s new superstar backcourt to deliver the Rockets a third championship in franchise history. Don’t ask why. As Westbrook would say, ask… why not?