Houston Rockets: Best and worst-case scenarios for the 2021-22 season
By David Hakim
Final thoughts on the 2021-22 Houston Rockets
As is true for any team undergoing a rebuild, the expectations for the coming seasons should be focused on the improvement of players rather than wins. Realistically, regardless of whether the Rockets end the season at the top of their division, or the bottom of the league, the season’s wins are effectively insignificant to the ‘best’ or ‘worst’ case scenarios. Houston is likely to live amongst the bottom few spots in the NBA’s standings, by no fault of their own; and it is perfectly fine.
Amongst the inevitable roadblocks and difficulties that their young team will encounter, there will undoubtedly be more reward than heartbreak, even in the event that they earn a 14% chance at the first overall pick. Houston has drafted impressively well, made their priorities for the future clear, and surrounded their young core with enough veteran presence to help them adjust to the immensely different world of NBA basketball.
In true contrast to countless other NBA teams, a successful 2021-22 season for the Houston Rockets looks to be one spent ironing out the kinks in a non-traditional team makeup, and a trial by fire, if fire means ensuring good draft positioning via foreseeable losses.
On October 20th, the Houston Rockets tip off the 2021-22 NBA season. Jalen Green, Kevin Porter Jr., Christian Wood, and the rest of the team, with John Wall on the sidelines, will open the year at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves at 8:00 p.m. EST.