Houston Rockets Drive For First Championship in 13 Years

When Daryl Morey took over the Rockets in 2007, I did not see the changes that he would be making. I thought, like most people, he would be limited by the salary cap. What he has managed to do in the short time he has been GM is nothing short of remarkable. It is also a roll of the dice.

With the addition of Ron Artest, the Rockets have become the contender they always hoped to be. With the frontline of Yao Ming, Luis Scola, and Artest, the Rockets are able to match up with best the NBA has to offer.

With Chuck Hayes, Carl Landry, and Shane Battier (once he is healthy) coming off the bench, the depth is as good as any other team in the league.

With Tracy McGrady, Rafer Alston, Brent Barry and Aaron Brooks, the back-court is in better hands than in recent years. Alston is never going to be more than a serviceable point guard. His main contribution is to take care of the ball and limit mistakes. The addition of Barry gives the Rockets a career 40 percent three-point shooter and someone who has won a couple of NBA rings. Brooks is small, but very fast and could help spark the Rockets as he continues to improve. T-Mac does not have a lot of years on him, but he does have the mileage. He needs to find a way to stay healthy for the entire year.

The Rockets have youth and veteran leadership. With Artest, they have attitude. That attitude could come with a price. Even with his past, however, the Houston fans have, for the most part, embraced Artest’s arrival. His skills give Houston an added dimension they have been lacking.

Of course, these moves won’t mean anything if the Rockets can’t stay healthy. A problem they are already dealing with. McGrady will already need surgery on his shoulder in the off-season and his knee is still not 100 percent. Yao Ming has not had a season where he has played more than 57 games in the last three years. Shane Battier is still recovering from off-season surgery and Aaron Brooks is day-to-day with an ankle sprain.

So the question remains. Is this the team that can win it all? Daryl Morey is hoping that he has set up the Rockets to do just that.