The Houston Rockets are sticking to their small-ball philosophy, something basketball pundits are not too confident about. Though they are oozing with firepower led no less by James Harden, the absence of a big man who can defend and control the boards could be their downfall.
There are some who see the Rockets unlikely to make it past the first round of the 2019-20 NBA playoffs. It may all depend on who they end up facing in the first round. While they do not seem short of gunners, the ability to pad that up with reliable defenders could backfire. Should the Rockets exit early, there is a growing belief that Rockets general manager Daryl Morey may yet again pull off some trades. Would that include the 30-year-old scoring machine?
In a report from Tim Bontemps of ESPN, the scenario of possibly seeing Harden getting traded are quite low. It is something that critics feel that would be remotely happening unless the Bearded One actually asks for a trade himself. But even if that were to happen, trading Harden may not be easy because of his ridiculously hefty contract. He is only in the first year of a four-year $171.1 million deal per Spotrac.
But then again, Morey is unpredictable. Though there were reports of Chris Paul having a rift with Harden, no one expected him to pull off a trade involving Russell Westbrook. There were concerns about ball-sharing at first. But somehow, the two have been making things work in Houston.
Another factor for Harden and the Rockets is what lies ahead. Their performance could dictate the future of both. If the Rockets succeed with their small-ball philosophy, Morey and head coach Mike D'Antoni will be branded as geniuses. If not, expect another major change in the works next season. At the top of the list will likely be a big man.
At the moment, the Rockets are 34-20 in the NBA Western Conference. They are coming off a win and are likely trying to get into the top four. Ahead of them is the Utah Jazz with a 36-18 win-loss card. If both teams stay the course, they are likely to be the ones facing off in the NBA playoffs.
D'Antoni has never been known to be a coach who thrives on defense. It was one of his glaring downsides with his previous teams (Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers). Morey may be giving him the benefit of the doubt with plenty of offensive options. Come the summer and if the Rockets fail to impress, it won't come as a surprise if he too could be booted out.
