Season Predictions
Regular Season: Led by MVP-frontrunner superstar SG James Harden and a flurry of excellent defenders and a revamped bench, one can almost forget that superstar C Dwight Howard is still injured. Harden has more than made up for this and kept the Rockets in position to get home-court advantage in the playoffs, while numerous acquisitions have helped as well. One can only imagine how dangerous a team this will be with Harden and Howard fully healthy and supported by this core in the playoffs.
Projected Record: 55-27
Playoffs Round One
Houston Rockets (#3) vs. Dallas Mavericks (#6)
The Rockets’ plan for winning games in the playoffs is as follows:
Series Prediction: Houston wins 4-2
Playoffs Round Two
Memphis Grizzlies (#2) vs. Houston Rockets (#3)
The “Harden Plan” (I shortened it) should be on full display here. Howard’s efforts will be put towards guarding superstar C Marc Gasol as well as battling for control of the paint, and Houston’s PF Josh Smith/PF Terrence Jones/PF Donatas Motiejunas should be doing the same against PF Zach Randolph and off of the bench. Beverley will do his best against star PG Mike Conley, which is pretty darn good, and SF Trevor Ariza should have no problem holding down SF Jeff Green. It’s all there for Harden to take control, and although SG Tony Allen is a great defender, nobody is stopping The Beard.
Series Prediction: Houston wins 4-3
Playoffs Round Three (Conference Finals)
Houston Rockets (#3) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (#8)
Another prime example of the “Harden Plan” against his former team. The Thunder boast Harden’s ex-teammates, superstars PG/SG Russell Westbrook and SF/PF Kevin Durant as well as star PF/C Serge Ibaka, but Houston’s defense will take care of that. Ariza and Beverley should be able to at the very least contain Westbrook and Durant somewhat. This is because both could give the superstars headaches as Beverley is known to be an annoying and pesky defender and Ariza’s length is that of Durant’s, so Durant won’t be able to utilize his superior wingspan, something he loves doing. Controlling the paint shouldn’t be an issue for Houston’s deep frontcourt rotation lead by Howard, and as these teams’ benches pretty much cancel out, this just makes it all too easy for James Harden to go to work and take over. Fear the Beard.
Series Prediction: Houston wins 4-3
Playoffs Round Four (Finals)
Atlanta Hawks (#1) vs. Houston Rockets (#3)
This is where the “Harden Plan” might not work so well. The Hawks boast five, yes five, All-Stars (including their coach) as well as a starting lineup of PG Jeff Teague, SG Kyle Korver, SF DeMarre Carroll, PF Paul Millsap, and C Al Horford. No true superstar, yet outstanding depth, great head-coaching, fantastic chemistry, and beautiful ball-movement have propelled the Hawks this far. Unlike other teams, you can’t just simply key in on a couple of guys, because each and every one of these players can make you pay for leaving them unguarded for even a split second. However, the Rockets don’t need to. Since they have excellent defenders up and down their lineup, they should be able to just try and guard everyone without the need to double. Their bench is at least as good as the Hawks, and Houston should be able to control the paint as they do in most of these series’, as Atlanta lacks both a true rim protector and is actually a sub-par rebounding team. With this in mind, even with a defensive specialist like Carroll guarding him, this series is all about The Beard, though it’s Josh Smith’s turn to get revenge on his former team. Even though the “Harden Plan” might be a little more difficult to execute against this Hawks team and on the biggest stage in basketball, you just know he will deliver.
Series Prediction: Houston wins 4-3
Finals MVP: SG James Harden
Regular Season: Led by MVP-frontrunner superstar SG James Harden and a flurry of excellent defenders and a revamped bench, one can almost forget that superstar C Dwight Howard is still injured. Harden has more than made up for this and kept the Rockets in position to get home-court advantage in the playoffs, while numerous acquisitions have helped as well. One can only imagine how dangerous a team this will be with Harden and Howard fully healthy and supported by this core in the playoffs.
Projected Record: 55-27
Playoffs Round One
Houston Rockets (#3) vs. Dallas Mavericks (#6)
The Rockets’ plan for winning games in the playoffs is as follows:
- Play good defense and rebound well
- Get good bench production
- Don’t let Harden get doubled
- Pass the ball to Harden
- Get out of the way
Series Prediction: Houston wins 4-2
Playoffs Round Two
Memphis Grizzlies (#2) vs. Houston Rockets (#3)
The “Harden Plan” (I shortened it) should be on full display here. Howard’s efforts will be put towards guarding superstar C Marc Gasol as well as battling for control of the paint, and Houston’s PF Josh Smith/PF Terrence Jones/PF Donatas Motiejunas should be doing the same against PF Zach Randolph and off of the bench. Beverley will do his best against star PG Mike Conley, which is pretty darn good, and SF Trevor Ariza should have no problem holding down SF Jeff Green. It’s all there for Harden to take control, and although SG Tony Allen is a great defender, nobody is stopping The Beard.
Series Prediction: Houston wins 4-3
Playoffs Round Three (Conference Finals)
Houston Rockets (#3) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (#8)
Another prime example of the “Harden Plan” against his former team. The Thunder boast Harden’s ex-teammates, superstars PG/SG Russell Westbrook and SF/PF Kevin Durant as well as star PF/C Serge Ibaka, but Houston’s defense will take care of that. Ariza and Beverley should be able to at the very least contain Westbrook and Durant somewhat. This is because both could give the superstars headaches as Beverley is known to be an annoying and pesky defender and Ariza’s length is that of Durant’s, so Durant won’t be able to utilize his superior wingspan, something he loves doing. Controlling the paint shouldn’t be an issue for Houston’s deep frontcourt rotation lead by Howard, and as these teams’ benches pretty much cancel out, this just makes it all too easy for James Harden to go to work and take over. Fear the Beard.
Series Prediction: Houston wins 4-3
Playoffs Round Four (Finals)
Atlanta Hawks (#1) vs. Houston Rockets (#3)
This is where the “Harden Plan” might not work so well. The Hawks boast five, yes five, All-Stars (including their coach) as well as a starting lineup of PG Jeff Teague, SG Kyle Korver, SF DeMarre Carroll, PF Paul Millsap, and C Al Horford. No true superstar, yet outstanding depth, great head-coaching, fantastic chemistry, and beautiful ball-movement have propelled the Hawks this far. Unlike other teams, you can’t just simply key in on a couple of guys, because each and every one of these players can make you pay for leaving them unguarded for even a split second. However, the Rockets don’t need to. Since they have excellent defenders up and down their lineup, they should be able to just try and guard everyone without the need to double. Their bench is at least as good as the Hawks, and Houston should be able to control the paint as they do in most of these series’, as Atlanta lacks both a true rim protector and is actually a sub-par rebounding team. With this in mind, even with a defensive specialist like Carroll guarding him, this series is all about The Beard, though it’s Josh Smith’s turn to get revenge on his former team. Even though the “Harden Plan” might be a little more difficult to execute against this Hawks team and on the biggest stage in basketball, you just know he will deliver.
Series Prediction: Houston wins 4-3
Finals MVP: SG James Harden