The Rockets regression: What went wrong, and what they need to avoid

The Rockets had a decline in level of play when looking at their two most recent seasons

As we look to the next full season for the Houston Rockets, they have much work to do.

A new coach, and a few new players on the roster should bring better results than last season, but not without changes on the defensive end. Some key stats illuminate this issue, as pointed out by NBA.com's John Schuhmann.

During the 2015-16 season, the Rockets shot 36.1 percent from beyond the arc. It was an increase from 32.2 percent the previous season, but the defense was an issue.

On the other end of the floor, the Rockets opponents shot percentage rose from beyond the arc at a solid 36.1 percent, up from 32.2 percent the previous year.

The Rockets also managed to be among the league’s worst defensive rebounding team, and sent their opponents to the free throw line more often. The defensive breakdowns hurt the team in more ways than one.

There is no guarantee that the team will improve defensively under coach Mike D’Antoni, but it was without a doubt the biggest reason the team dropped from the second seed in 2014-15 to the eighth seed in 2015/16.

There are plenty of stats to consider when looking back at what went wrong.