While the Rockets’ last two performances have done much to quell the endless concerns surrounding their vastly underperforming roster, it’d be far from correct to say the ship has been righted.
At 13-14, the Rockets have climbed out of the Western Conference’s cellar, but pressing questions remain about the legitimacy of the team’s rebounding, defense, and wing depth. (And that’s ignoring the arguably more alarming questions that Clint Capela’s defensive slippage and Chris Paul’s discouraging overall start to the season have created.)
So while all TDS readers (and staff) hope the day never comes, as we hit the one-third mark of the season, it’s time somebody plays devil’s advocate: what happens if the Rockets miss the playoffs?