Houston Rockets: We Have a Problem.

The Houston Rockets have started the 2010-11 NBA season with three losses (and zero victories), after losing to the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors and the Denver Nuggets in their home opener on Saturday night. Something is not “right” with the team this season as, just like their performance last year, they have not been playing up to par. In the season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers, the Rockets were getting torn apart on the offensive glass, with Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol grabbing offensive rebounds, leading to many second chance opportunities for the Lakers.

One of the things that struck me about the Rockets is that they are clearly missing the kind of player who provides the energy and hustle on the offensive and defensive side of the basketball(ex: Carl Landry type). With Yao Ming back and working hard to get back from a foot injury, he seems to have slowed down the Rockets' tempo, which shuts down the advantage of having a speedy backcourt with both Aaron Brooks and Courtney Lee or even Kevin Martin. While they played most of last season at a quicker pace, they were also more defensively sound than after the first three games of this season.

Luis Scola continues to play well but needs some help down low, whether it is from Yao Ming, or at the small forward position with Shane Battier or the undersized Chuck Hayes. It appears that Yao Ming is going to take more time to get back into his rhythm and the Rockets need to somehow play another big man to help out with preventing the other teams' offensive rebounding. The Rockets will not be able to win many games if they allow so many offensive rebounds.

Jared Jeffries, Brad Miller, Hayes, Jordan Hill, and rookie Patrick Patterson, are on the current roster, but do not bring the same offensive arsenal that Scola provides on a given night. Patterson and Hill have not seen significant playing time so far, but they might during the course of the season. Even with the reported addition of big man Erick Dampier, the offense may have to slow down even more, which may alter the play of both Aaron Brooks and Courtney Lee or Kevin Martin.

Hopefully, the Rockets will be able to pick up some momentum in their favor soon, as they do not want to fall too far back in the tough Western Conference.