Will Chris Paul be the difference maker that the Houston Rockets have needed to get them back to the Western Conference Finals?
This past offseason, the Houston Rockets managed to acquire Chris Paul in a trade that finally ended his time in Los Angeles. The Houston Rockets traded away six players to acquire Paul, including Sam Dekker, Montrezl Harrell, and Lou Williams.
This move by the Rockets was a clear indication they wanted to win now and assert themselves at the top of the Western Conference with the Golden State Warriors.
Many people questioned the trade at first. It’s one thing to add star talent to your team, but you have to make it work on the court. Many wondered how Chris Paul and James Harden, two ball-dominant guards, would manage to share the ball evenly among themselves and the rest of the team.
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The Rockets have had an unbelievable season thus far. Their record currently sits at 62-15 with just five games left in the regular season. They have also already have broken the franchise record for wins in a season.
The addition of Chris Paul has been a major factor in the Rockets success this season. With Chris Paul and James Harden in the lineup, the Rockets are 39-4.
Chris Paul and James Harden fit together seamlessly. There never been should have any questions whether they could make it work. The offense as a whole is on another level when they are on the court together.
This season the Rockets have an offensive rating of 112.8 which is best in the NBA, even over the Warriors.
The Houston Rockets have officially clinched the No. 1 overall seed in the Western Conference and homecourt throughout the playoffs. Numerous Rockets players have openly expressed the importance to them of clinching the first seed.
Can Chris Paul be the difference maker for the Rockets in the playoffs?
The Houston Rockets are a confident bunch and that has been the story all season for them. Can the combination of Chris Paul and Harden with the confidence this group has right now be enough to take down the Warriors?
If the two teams do meet in the Conference Finals, home court could be the deciding factor in the series. That potential Game 7 being in Houston could potentially be what puts Houston over the top this season.
However, in previous seasons, Houston has had some disappointing playoff series. Last season, they lost to the Spurs in the Conference Semifinals. Harden virtually disappeared in a blow out Game 6 to close out the series. In 2016, they were the 8th seed and lost in the first round to the Warriors.
Additionally, Chris Paul has never been to the Conference Finals in his career. Chris Paul has been subject to some unfortunate luck over his playoff career but typically plays well in the playoffs.
The fact is the Rockets main leaders both have been shaky in the playoffs. Chris Paul and James Harden still have to prove they can be consistent in the postseason before we start picking them as the favorites against the Warriors.
With the Western Conference looking as tough as ever, the Rockets have their work cut out for them to reach the conference finals. However, based on their play, this is the most likely year for them to reach that goal.
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That won’t be enough for the Houston Rockets if they get there. They believe they are capable of beating the Warriors and reaching the NBA Finals. If that ends up being the matchup and both teams are playing at their best, it will make for a historic playoff series.