NBA: Grading would-be playoff teams in the Western Conference

6. Houston Rockets (40-24)

Grade: B-

“Live by the 3, die by the 3” is the only way to describe the Houston Rockets since Daryl Morey took over. It is a very simple equation when it comes to analyzing this Rockets team. If they are hitting the 3-ball, they can beat anybody in the league. If the 3-ball isn’t falling, they have no shot against the top teams in the league.

After trading Clint Capela in February, the Rockets went 7-2 in their next nine games in which they beat the Lakers, Jazz, and Celtics twice. The player that benefitted most from the trade was Russell Westbrook, who has raised his game to a different level. Still not able to shoot the 3-ball well, he provides a relentless attack which is a change of pace compared to James Harden.

With this being said, the Rockets were looked at as real contenders by many with this new small-ball lineup. That 7-2 stretch was followed up a four-game losing streak, including losses to the New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Charlotte Hornets, and getting embarrassed by the Los Angeles Clippers. While the Rockets have a higher ceiling than any team besides the Clippers and Lakers,  the reason the Rockets don’t get a higher grade is due to their inconsistency and reliance on one playstyle, which can allow them to get hot or ice-cold like they did before the season was halted.