30 Teams, 30 Days: Rockets pin growth on Lawson
30 Teams, 30 Days: Rockets pin growth on Lawson
Since the Warriors grabbed their first NBA title in 40 years in June, NBA teams have undergone a number of changes over the summer break. NBA.com will evaluate the state of each franchise in the month of September with a look at 30 teams in 30 days.
Today's Team: Houston Rockets | All 30 Teams
Who's gone: Josh Smith
Who's new: Ty Lawson,
Montrezl Harrell,
Sam Dekker
The Lowdown: Everyone saw it last season. As good as the Rockets were, and as deep as they went into the playoffs, they had a glaring and eventually costly deficiency. They needed a point guard.
Yes,
Patrick Beverley was out with an injury, but that's not the point. Even with Beverley healthy, the Rockets lacked a reliable playmaker to relieve
James Harden of the ball-handling duties. Arguably, that was the difference-maker between the Rockets and the other superpowers in the West, and perhaps the entire NBA.
Not only did the Rockets get a point guard this summer, but one who's a borderline All-Star with a tight handle, rim-attacking tendencies and a decent jumper. And he came cheap from the Nuggets; he only cost the Rockets a plate of chicken enchiladas from Papasito's.
Ty Lawson Traded to Rockets
Did the Rockets get a steal with this pickup or is Lawson "damaged goods?"
"We're happy to have him," Harden said.
What's the catch? Well, with
Ty Lawson, you must read the fine print.
And it says Lawson, for all of his talent, could be a mistake-in-waiting, that he has a history of being ticketed for alcohol-related issues, and that before arriving in Houston he checked into rehab.
Does he still sound like a steal? Well, only he can answer that, and only with his sobriety and willingness to wise up and mature and start acting like a professional who loves basketball more than anything in the world. That's usually not a lot to ask, but we're dealing with a player with a few too many strikes against him, a player given all the chances in the world in Denver. What makes anyone believe Lawson will suddenly fly straight this time?
Well, the Rockets really didn't have much to lose. And one of the best ways to fill a void is by getting a distressed player. Meaning, a good player who, for some reason (usually bad), is no longer wanted and can be had for 50 cents on the dollar. Players who fit this description in the past: Dennis Rodman, Ron Artest, Stephen Jackson, etc. The Rockets' point guard situation is that dire. Sometimes a change in scenery is what's needed, and maybe now Lawson has teammates he respects. Does he really want to let Harden down?
Kevin McHale Interview
Houston head coach Kevin McHale chats with the guys about the state of the Rockets.
With Lawson on the ball, Harden is free to float and doesn't need to bring the ball upcourt or dribble 10 seconds off the clock while going iso-ball. Hopefully his ego will allow him to turn the ball over to Lawson and play a different role. If so, the Rockets will be less predictable and perhaps more dangerous offensively.
The summer was all about Lawson because the Rockets didn't make any significant changes, unless you fell for the idea that Josh Smith was in Houston for the long-term. He wasn't. As much as the Rockets needed him in the playoffs, especially in their comeback against the Clippers, Smith was too sloppy and unpredictable. His bad habits (shooting 3s and making wrong decisions) always seemed to arrive and hurt the Rockets. Now that he's older, Smith can't rely on his supreme athletic skills to bail him out, and must lean more on pure basketball instincts, which are deadly most of the time.
They'll welcome a pair of rookies in Sam Dekker and Montrezl Harrell, a pair of forwards from high-profile college programs who might crack the rotation. Dekker is very athletic but a spotty shooter; Harrell is a banger whose mean streak compensates for his lack of shooting and dribbling. Of course, Rockets coach Kevin McHale doesn't rely on rookies, not at this stage, so any improvement by the Rockets will likely come from their returning rotation.
Therefore, there are big plans for
Clint Capela and Donatas Montiejunas, as Houston hopes they can step to the forefront and become valuable role players as the team continues to build around Harden and
Dwight Howard.
But this is all about Lawson and if he stays straight and if he represents another coup for GM Daryl Morey. If Lawson walks the straight and narrow, he and Harden could rate among the best backcourts in the NBA. It depends on where Lawson's priorities are right now. Count Harden as a believer.
"He's more focused than ever," Harden said. "He gives us that quickness, that speed, playmaking ability, something that we were missing, especially deep in the playoffs. We're going to welcome him with open arms."
and I had the off-season thread going.