With the 2019-2020 NBA season fast approaching, Our First Draft is providing team previews for all 30 NBA teams. These are intended to inform the reader about important roster changes for all teams, as well as summarizing the outlook of the team ahead. This includes the Vegas Over/Under line, OFD’s recommendation on which side to take, as well as a projected record for the team.
Team: Houston Rockets
Conference: Western
Wins O/U: 53.5 (Over -110, Under -110)
Last Year’s Record: 53-29
Projected Roster (Projected Starters marked with asterisks): A. Bennett, C. Capela*, T. Chandler, G. Clark, D. Davis, G. Green, E. Gordon, J. Harden*, I. Hartenstein, D. House Jr.*, B. McLemore, S. Ponds, A. Rivers, P. Tucker*, R. Westbrook*
Key Offseason Moves: Traded C. Paul for R. Westbrook
Overall Summary: James Harden and Russell Westbrook have made a Finals together. Of course, that was the summer of 2012, before either would be named MVP. James Harden has shown himself as the greatest scorer since Kobe, or maybe even Jordan. Meanwhile, Russell Westbrook has done what had seemed impossible – averaging a triple double over the course of the season. Of course, he would do it again, and last season, for a third time. However, neither have ever lifted the trophy at the end of the season that signifies a championship – neither have even made it back to the finals – both coming so very close to beating the dynastic Warriors in different Game 7s of the Western Conference Finals. Now that their partnership has reunited about 450 miles south, can they seize the championship destiny that seemed so obvious nearly a decade ago? Otherwise, besides swapping in Westbrook for Chris Paul, this is a very similar team to the squads that have contended for the last two years. Westbrook is certainly more durable than Chris Paul, which should help take the load off of Harden. However, the criticism of Westbrook remains – can he fully accept the fact that he is not the best player on his team? If he can, this Houston squad can ride Harden, Westbrook, Tucker, and Capela to the playoffs – and potentially into June.
Verdict: To me, this feels similar to the Nuggets line – I don’t think the Rockets are getting enough respect. The Rockets started out 11-14 last year, going 42-15 the rest of the way. Harden shows no signs of slowing down, and Westbrook will be able to take some of those ball handling responsibilities away. Mike D’Antoni has proven to be one of the best regular season coaches of the 21st century, and as long as the Rockets can avoid limping out of the gates like last year, they should easily hit the over, and I think it’s a pretty good value bet. I project them to finish with a record of 56-26.
Love the clip.