Struggling Rockets
The Rockets lost by three points in their latest match, coincidentally the same small margin by which they also absorbed their 14th setback last season. That said, the difference between their current campaign and that of their immediate past is vast, and not simply because it would take them another four months to the day before reaching the negative number. The quality of the opposition is telling; whereas they succumbed to the overachieving but still wanting Mavericks yesterday, it was against the East-leading Raptors that they suffered the same fate the last time around.
Indeed, the Rockets are nowhere near as sharp as they proved to be when they ruled the league through the 2017-18 season and came to within two quarters of upending the powerhouse Warriors and booking a seat to the Finals. For the most part, it’s because the switch-all system that hitherto kept opponents at bay has become far from effective given the personnel turnover. And so profound has the absence of Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute become that not even the coaxing of defensive guru Jeff Bzdelik back from retirement seems productive. It’s too bad, really, because the Warriors need bona fide competition, and the Rockets appeared to play the role to the hilt, with an untimely injury to point god Chris Paul the lone reason they weren’t able to succeed last season. These days, the defending champions are so good that infighting looks to be the only stumbling block to yet another dominant run to the top. Meanwhile, they’re flailing, and, evidently, walking in place. Yesterday, they seemed primed for victory, leading by eight late in the payoff period, only to collapse and allow a 26th lead change in favor of the Mavericks.
True, there’s still time for the Rockets to turn their fortunes around. And, true, Paul and reigning Most Valuable Player James Harden are too good not to find ways to forge ahead. The question is when, not if. The problem is that the rest of the National Basketball Association have figured them out, and unless and until they’re ready to exceed themselves anew, and pronto, their efforts may come too late.
True, there’s still time for the Rockets to turn their fortunes around. And, true, Paul and reigning Most Valuable Player James Harden are too good not to find ways to forge ahead. The question is when, not if. The problem is that the rest of the National Basketball Association have figured them out, and unless and until they’re ready to exceed themselves anew, and pronto, their efforts may come too late.