The woeful Houston Rockets have the least amount of wins in the NBA since superstar and future Hall-of-Famer James Harden demanded a trade three years ago (Breaking news per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN: Harden is now an LA Clipper as part of an overnight blockbuster trade with the Philadelphia 76ers). They have begun the 2023-2024 season with three straight losses and have assumed their familiar perch in the basement of the NBA standings. Historically, the Rockets have never been an also-ran type of team. Houston hired Ime Udoka on a lucrative contract this past summer to help right the ship. Udoka is the former Boston Celtic head coach who took the team to the NBA Finals in 2022. What must Ime Udoka do to get the Rockets back on a winning path? I'm no coach, but I am familiar with rockets and what it takes to launch them.
Shameless plug: If you haven't checked out my Hall of Fame articles, check them out here:
Hall of Fame Spotlight- Dwyane Wade
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Assessment
As with any crewed flight vehicle, an assessment is required to determine if a rocket is travel-worthy. The Rockets traded Harden to Brooklyn for a haul of draft picks and players rerouted for the injury-prone Victor Oladipo. Two ill-fated trades were also completed that same year. The Rockets traded future Hall-of-Famer Russell Westbrook for John Wall and acquired Kevin Porter Jr. from the Cavaliers in a salary dump. Fast forward three years later.
The Rockets have won less than 60 games out of a possible 250. They benched John Wall for most of his time in Houston and shipped him out. The Rockets drafted and subsequently traded a number of the first-round picks they acquired. Oladipo was traded but is now back for some reason. I can't even bring myself to discuss the assault allegations that have left Kevin Porter Jr. jobless for the foreseeable future.
Players openly celebrate when they can avoid being drafted by Houston.
Ime Udoka chose this situation for a reason, and he has much to prove. The Rockets had cap space and dealt it with both hands this summer. They distributed two hundred million dollars worth of veteran contracts. The vets were brought in to compliment young first-rounders Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun (both due for nine-figure extensions after this season) and third-overall pick Jabari Smith Jr. How is it going?
The Rockets opened the season with a thirty-point loss to the rebuilding Orlando Magic. Houston has not lost that badly in a season opener in over 40 years. The team is now caught between developing the new rookies Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore while simultaneously needing to win games this season. Uh oh.
Lighten the Load
Rafael Stone, Jalen Green, and Ime Udoka. Photo Credit:
Getty Images The lighter the rocket, the less thrust it needs to lift off. One of the best ways the Rockets can lighten the load is to eliminate the excuses that justify losing.
Was former head coach Stephen Silas the problem? He wasn't a problem as a Maverick assistant coach, where he orchestrated the league's top offense. Silas wasn't a problem as the assistant coach for future Hall-of-Famers LeBron James and Steph Curry in previous stops. But Silas is off to Detroit now, and the rebuilding Pistons (record of 2-1) were one shot away from starting the season 3-0. Ime Udoka is here now. The Silas excuse is gone.
They had the opportunity to bring back Harden in a trade this summer but opted to go the Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks route. Ime Udoka reportedly signed off on not bringing back Harden. The vets they acquired have won many games at every stop they've played in. Jeff Green was on the championship-winning Denver Nuggets just last year. There should be no excuses or discussions surrounding a lack of a superstar on the roster. The rising stars must rise.
Removing Rafael Stone from his general manager position is the next obvious choice to lighten the load. This is a results-oriented business, and Stone has exhausted his currency of cap room, lottery pick, and head coach selections.
Propellants
Rockets need enough fuel to boost away from the Earth's atmosphere. Who are the propellants for Houston? That's for Ime Udoka to tinker and figure out. Amen Thompson is said to be one of the fastest guards in the league already. Green (#2 overall pick in 2021) and Smith Jr. (#3 overall pick in 2022) have to take leaps this season and become the reliable shooters they were drafted to be.
I firmly believe VanVleet and Sengun should be the propellants of the half-court sets, and the young guards should be rocket fuel for the fastbreak.
There should also be defensive propellants to complement the offensive propellants. Dillon Brooks welcomes the challenge, but who else (especially in the frontcourt) is willing to do the same? Defensive rebounds end most successful defensive possessions. The Rockets are dead last in rebounding to start the season.
Speed
A rocket must travel nearly 18,000 miles per hour in a curved path to break Earth's gravity and keep from being pulled back down. Emphasizing team speed should facilitate easier scoring. The Rockets rank near the bottom in fast break points per game. Speed it up with the young guns and create chaos for opposing teams. Maybe that simplifies the offensive reads, and they can play freely.
"The Bright Side"
Looking at the bright side, like how the defense looks improved or how they lose close, is highly detrimental if the win column doesn't back it up. If my girlfriend breaks up with me, "At least I'm single and ready to mingle" is not a proper way to look at the bright side. A self-assessment, corrections, and some actual dates lined up is when you reach the bright side. Ime Udoka needs to line up some dates, or he and the Rockets will be single for a Long time.
Photo Credit for featured cover image: Getty Images.
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