The Houston Rockets' abysmal 2021-22 season is almost over, which means the payoff of their tank will soon be seen. Everything is predicated on the future and the potential of how great it can be in H-Town. Getting to the offseason and seeing who they can in the draft is the real contest worth keeping an eye on.
With youngsters like Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Kevin Porter Jr., Kenyon Martin Jr., Josh Christopher seeing heavy minutes, the team has the worst net rating in the NBA. Veterans like Christian Wood, Eric Gordon and Dennis Schröder provide a steady presence and no significant chances at stealing wins.
The Rockets are bad by design, leaving them with heaps of losses, many of which were y double digits. Still, this season was useful and it could springboard a very productive offseason in Houston.
Click here for our Risk Free $1000 Bet!
*To claim, new users need to register, make a first deposit, and then simply place their first real-money wager on FanDuel Sportsbook up to $1000! If a user loses their first wager, we’ll refund their losses in the form of a free bet up to $1000!*
3 bold Rockets predictions
1. Jalen Green makes All-Rookie First Team
With Evan Mobley, Cade Cunningham, Scottie Barnes, Josh Giddey and Franz Wagner all enjoying very good rookie seasons, the chance for Green to make even the All-Rookie First Team, let alone Rookie of the Year, are slim. However, this award is mainly about a rookie's stats and not necessarily their overall impact. Green can still shoot his way into one of the five spots if heats up down the stretch.
Green has been seeing more playing time recently, leading him to play some of his best basketball of the season. Right now, he is third amongst rookies in points per game (15.1) and leads the Rockets in shots per game in the 2022 portion of this season. He could easily be the rookie scoring leader, as Houston will certainly afford him the green light down the homestretch. If that happens, enough voters may be intrigued by his scoring abilities to give him a vote.
2. Dennis Schröder plays his way into the team's future
When the 28-year-old Schröder was traded to the Rockets at the trade deadline, it was assumed that he was being dealt there so that Houston can buy him out. Yet, he is still here and could be here for even longer.
Through six games since being traded to Houston by the Boston Celtics, Schröder is averaging 10.8 points and 7.5 assists. His playmaking skills are nothing super special but they are still the very best that Houston has right now. That skill is very valuable to a team with so many young players. Having him around would be especially helpful to Porter and Green, who flash playmaking potential but can't yet carry the load in that area.
Even on a rebuilding team, it's important to surround the young guys with a few surefire veterans. Schröder is surefire enough to provide some help but not so good that he'll ruin their tanking efforts.
3. The Rockets secure the worst record in the league
A league-worst 12-game losing streak should have Rockets fans dreaming of the top lottery pick odds. The team is well on its way to securing the worst record in the league.
The Orlando Magic are only 0.5 games ahead of them in the standings while the Detroit Pistons are only 1.5 games ahead. Houston's tank job is not yet over. They have a lot more losing to do in order to beat out the other two contenders to the bottom of the barrel. Their awful defense should truly allow them to rack up losses.
If they keep up their awful play by leaning heavily on their raw, young players, the Rockets will have the best odds at favorable draft positioning.
Follow Us
Subscribe