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http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9997968/the-rockets-approach-nba-finals-worthy
The Defense Rests

The case against Houston is simple: The Rockets don't seem to want to guard anyone and Dwight Howard's fading skills aren't helping. Plus, a few things to like in the NBA this week.

By Zach Lowe on November 19, 2013PRINT

The Rockets, really, are fine. They're 7-4 with two max-level free agents, and they're outscoring teams by 4.3 points per 100 possessions — the eighth-best mark in the league. That margin doesn't peg them as legit title contenders, and it would be unrealistic to expect championship-level play this early from what remains, in the big picture, a very new roster integrating a giant and even newer centerpiece.

Even their defense, maligned across the Internet after a couple of embarrassing performances, ranks 13th in points allowed per possession and has held opponents to just 41.7 percent shooting overall — the third-lowest mark in the league. "It's way too early to panic," says Kelvin Sampson, the team's top assistant coach. "There are a lot of things we are doing better than people might think."

And yet, there is an unease and turmoil around the Rockets that is unusual for a team this good. Much of the tension was predictable, though it has blown up faster than anyone could have expected. And it stems in part from high expectations after the offseason signing of Dwight Howard. The Rockets are all-in for a championship this season, and the margin for error shrinks close to zero when you're competing with the very best teams. All the little bits of ugliness that mar a quarter here and there — inconsistent defense, lazy effort, an imbalanced roster — morph into team-defining weaknesses in the playoffs against elite teams devoted entirely to exploiting your imperfections.

The Omer Asik situation has engulfed the team, but it will be resolved soon. The Rockets have begun Asik-centered trade talks after Kevin McHale removed Asik from the starting lineup last week, a demotion that renewed his desire to leave Houston. McHale left Asik on the bench during the second half of last Wednesday's overtime loss in Philadelphia, and a source within the organization confirms Jonathan Feigen's report in the Houston Chronicle that Asik asked out of the team's next game against the Knicks in New York.1

The Rockets will eventually trade Asik, likely sometime after December 15, when free agents who signed over the summer are eligible to be traded.2 What they get for him will hugely determine the league's final balance of power, especially since a lot of the most interesting teams with a potential need for a rim-protecting behemoth center are in the Western Conference with Houston: Portland, Oklahoma City, Dallas, the Clippers, and even the Pelicans.3 The most calculating analytics types, including Houston GM Daryl Morey, have long scoffed at the idea that trading within your division or conference should factor into a team's deal-making calculus. But it's easy to be blasé about such things when you're battling for the no. 8 seed. The Rockets are on higher ground now.

But the Asik situation will resolve itself either way. That will leave the Rockets with two defining questions still to answer:

1. Can they build a championship-level defense without a major roster upgrade?

2. Can they integrate Howard's fading inside game into the go-go, 3-point bombing offense that blitzed the league last season?

TMACFORMVP wrote:I thought it was a pretty good article. I don't think he really said it will be a problem we'll have all season, but it's definitely something that's concerning right now, and needs serious changes. I agree that posting up Dwight actually hurts our offense, b/c he's just not that efficient in those situations. And our perimeter defense lacks serious focus and discipline, which needs to be reigned in if we want to be where we wanna be. And maybe I'm crazy, but my goals for this season, with the talent we have on this roster is definitely "win it all" sort aspirations. I mean, ingredient wise, what are we really missing? We have an absolutely elite defensive anchor in Dwight, the best in the league. We have a superstar offensive guard, we have a bonafide 3rd/4th options in Lin, and then Parsons. We have other good players like Beverley, some shooters, and some young talent that's shown a little bit towards being rotation players (TJones, DMo, Casspi etc.). We also have the best backup center in the league, or worst/best case, using him as an asset to get a legitimate contributor.

I mean, why shouldn't we expect more. We need more chemistry, and we need more accountability, with a whole host of other things, but I really don't think we're one of those teams looking for "another" piece in order to truly contend in this league.

kam_soluusar wrote:Most of us regulars here are realists. I don't think anyone here said we would be contenders this season. Better than last year, yes. I think we will make the W/C finals, but that is as far as we will go this season.

Anyone who considers us contenders needs to lay off the crack pipe.

inquisitive wrote:perimeter D is all i'm really concerned with right now....still think we need a true good backup to relieve Harden of so many minutes....don't think Garcia is the answer. a minor trade of some sort. lin can only help so much.

kam_soluusar wrote:Most of us regulars here are realists. I don't think anyone here said we would be contenders this season. Better than last year, yes. I think we will make the W/C finals, but that is as far as we will go this season.

We have issues, but show me a team that doesn't. As long as we compete, even when we lose, I will be happy with our effort this season. I mean, Parsons is considered the team veteran, (longest tenured, I do not count AB.) We are a young, developing team. Anyone who considers us contenders needs to lay off the crack pipe.