Houston Rockets: Is Chris Paul to blame for Rockets struggles?

Would the Houston Rockets have been better off without acquiring James Harden?

In the Western Conference Semifinals, the Houston Rockets are down 2-0 to the Golden State Warriors heading into a crucial Game 3.

Despite the Rockets’ success last season, the Rockets were the fourth seed this year. While other teams have gotten better, there’s a case to be made that the Rockets’ regression is largely due to Chris Paul’s questionable health and age.

Paul was acquired via a 2017 blockbuster trade between the Clippers and Rockets. Houston sent Patrick Beverley, Montrezl Harrell, and Lou Williams to the Clippers in exchange for Paul.

So far this year in the playoffs, CP3 is averaging just 17.4 points and 5.1 assists per game.

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With the Clippers, Patrick Beverley averaged 9.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game in the first round. And he was easily the best defender in the entire series. Lou Williams averaged 21.7 points and 7.7 assists in round 1 and was unstoppable. Montrezl Harrell averaged an impressive 18.3 points per game too.

While the Rockets with CP3 did take the Warriors to seven games in last year’s Western Conference Finals, the Warriors were without Andre Iguodala last year. And the Warriors may not have taken the Rockets seriously last season.

If the Rockets had kept these players, they would have a chance at beating the Golden State Warriors. In Oracle Arena, Lou Williams averaged 31.33 points and 10 assists per game while playing less than 35 minutes per contest.

You can make a case that a team of James Harden, Eric Gordon, PJ Tucker, Clint Capela, Patrick Beverley, Austin Rivers, Nene, Kenneth Faried, Lou Williams, Patrick Beverley, and Montrezl Harrell would have been sensational. They could have easily forced a series with the Golden State to go seven games.

And with the remaining cap space, the Rockets could have just added to James Harden’s supporting cast.

The 2018 free agent class contained a lot of talented role players.

For reference, Rajon Rondo, who was signed by the Lakers in free agency, averaged 9.2 points, 8.0 assists, and 5.3 rebounds per game during the regular season. In the playoffs, Rondo was dynamite last season. Rondo averaged 10.3 points, 12.2 assists, and 7.6 rebounds per game while playing less than 35 minutes.

The Rockets would have had a better shot at beating the Warriors this year if they had stuck with their original team and just added new pieces. Or just replacing a few of their current pieces.

Chris Paul has been good so far in the playoffs, however, he has not been great. Against any other Western Conference team, Chris Paul’s performance would be sufficient to win the series. However, he is not performing like a max contract worthy player this season.

The Rockets will probably not win two games this series, with the way the Warriors are playing.

There is no doubt that Chris Paul’s performance last season resulted him earning a max contract from the Houston Rockets. The Rockets did push Golden State to a Game 7 in the Western Conference Finals and have the best record in the NBA. However, he has not continued to perform at that level this season.

As Chris Paul ages, his for injury concerns will only increase and he not be able to consistently produce for the Rockets. And in the playoffs, the Rockets need Chris Paul to score points in addition to assisting the basketball.

If CP3 would have been four years younger, there is no question that the Rockets would have not regretted the contract. Meanwhile, the Clippers have added three valuable pieces to their roster that are a huge attraction for them landing free agents.

Chris Paul’s contract is going to continue to burden the Rockets for years. It’s clear that the Clippers won the Chris Paul trade.