Tough Challenges Remain for Rockets in Post-McHale Era
The dismissal of head coach Kevin McHale may have unexpectedly opened a can of worms for the Houston Rockets.
Fresh off a winning season that saw them advance all the way to the Western Conference Finals, the Rockets were in prime position to build upon last season’s success. The acquisitions of Ty Lawson and Marcus Thornton were viewed by many as positive moves. On top of that, the Rockets entered the regular season with almost the entirety of their roster returning healthy.
The Rockets were trending up—or so it seemed.
Struggling early out of the gate, the Rockets opened the season with three consecutive 20-point losses, followed by four wins, followed by four losses in a row.
After being handed their fourth consecutive loss, the Rockets elected to call a “players-only” meeting to hash out some things. Less than 24 hours after the conclusion of their meeting, head coach Kevin McHale was shown the door.
Rockets interim head coach J.B. Bickerstaff will now be entrusted with energizing a Rockets team that has appeared lackadaisical at times, and wholly disengaged at others.
It's a tall task.
In order for the Rockets to regain their confidence moving forward, they will have to first look introspectively and find solutions to a few challenges they will be faced with in this new “post-McHale” era.
Offensive Adjustments
In a system governed predominantly by analytics and a beard, the Rockets must begin to diversify their offensive philosophy if they hope to rise to the top of the Western Conference.
According to Basketball-Reference.com, the Rockets, as a team, are shooting a woeful 41.5 percent from the field this season, which ranks 29th in the league. Perhaps even more shocking is they are shooting 29.6 percent from behind the arc, where they aim to accrue most of their scoring.
There’s no question the Rockets’ shooting statistics have fallen drastically this season. While this could be attributed to the offseason addition of Ty Lawson at point guard, it is more likely a byproduct of James Harden’s erratic inefficiency on offense this season.
If the Rockets want to compete with the offensive juggernauts that reside in the upper echelon of the Western Conference, they should adopt an offensive philosophy that preaches selflessness over selfishness. Spreading the ball around more, giving Harden an opportunity to play off the ball and trusting Lawson to be their floor general on the court will undoubtedly lead to improved production.
Defensive Aggression
On average, Finals participants have sported the fifth-ranked defense since 2000. Obviously the Rockets have a long ways to go if they desire to make that cut.
As cliché as it may sound, the Rockets should go back to the drawing board to reevaluate their entire philosophy on the defensive side of the ball. They currently rank 28th in the league in defense per game, a considerable drop-off from last year’s ranking (17).
To break it down further, the Rockets rank 26th in the league in opponent field-goal percentage, allowing their opponents to shoot 46.2 percent from the field. This is primarily due to turnovers and mistakes on the offensive end, which tend to directly lead to easy fast-break points and open shot opportunities.
The quickest remedy for Houston’s defensive struggles is focus. Energy and tenacity will only carry the Rockets so far. Increased attention to eliminating the passing and cutting lanes that are leaving the middle of the floor exposed to easy layups and jump shots will be the first step in shoring up the Rockets’ defense. Having the presence of mind to stay engaged at all times will also help prevent the Rockets from having to battle their way back into games late in the fourth quarter.
Leadership and Chemistry
With the departure of Kevin McHale, locker room leadership must become a focal point for this Rockets team.
Jason Terry, Trevor Ariza and Corey Brewer all bring veteran, championship experience to the table. While James Harden and Dwight Howard will undeniably remain the co-captains of the team, they should lean heavily upon their seasoned veterans for guidance and leadership this season. As the age-old adage goes: “Leaders don't create followers, they create more leaders.”
Developing team chemistry as the season progresses is equally essential. The Rockets placed an emphasis this offseason on re-signing their core players—which they successfully accomplished.
However, they also have a few new faces in the crowd that are still trying to absorb the Rockets system. Having leaders who can help explain the nuances of their system will be a huge plus.
If the Rockets are to ever tap into their full potential, their veterans need to become more involved. This season is far from over for the Rockets, but things will continue to veer south unless this team can find leaders who will stand up and lead by example. Team chemistry must also begin to accelerate at a higher rate. This will shorten the learning curve for the new recruits, and will also be key in pulling out tight games down the stretch.
Fulfilling Expectations
The Rockets have the potential of being the deepest, most proficient team in the NBA this season. Suffice it to say, they have all of the necessary tools required to win a championship.
Unfortunately, they haven’t figured out yet how to make all of those tools work together in unison.
And this could prove to be their undoing.
Back in September, during the Houston Rockets Media Day session, Dwight Howard spoke out about his championship aspirations this season:
""If we stay healthy, we have a great shot at a championship. I took some time off of the game this summer to get focused mentally on how to be a better leader, a better teammate and to be better for the city. I'm eating right and sleeping right. We've got a chance to do something special. That's the only thing that's been on our mind. We believe."
"
While Howard is definitely saying the right words, there comes a time when your actions have to back up your words.
Right now, the Rockets aren’t backing up their words.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
