7. Houston Rockets
Many questioned the Houston Rockets entering the restart. How would this team look without a true starting center and legit size on their roster? Would Russell Westbrook and James Harden continue to co-exist together? Is this the last hurrah for Mike D’Antoni and this current core?
While many of those questions have yet to be answered, there’s growing optimism surrounding the Rockets. If this team can remain healthy throughout the playoffs, I’m not sure there’s any team that will be hoping for a matchup against them. A well-rested Harden is the last thing teams want to see in a seven-game series, and their defense has actually been good during the restart.
I have no idea how this season will end for the Rockets, and actually believe that this is a team that perhaps benefitted from the hiatus the most. Generally, Harden is dragging heading into the playoffs after having to carry a team offensively for the majority of the regular season.
Not this year, though. He’s had more than four months off and should be fresh in any series. How much will that matter?