The Houston Rockets are currently facing a challenging stretch in their season as they strive to secure a spot in the play-in tournament. With a record of 23-29, they find themselves sitting at 12th place in the fiercely competitive Western Conference. Falling behind by three games in the win column compared to the 11th seeded Utah Jazz, the Rockets are in dire need of a turnaround. Unfortunately, they have been struggling as of late, losing four consecutive games and managing just three wins in their last ten outings. This downward trend has them inching closer to the lower end of the Western Conference standings, alongside teams like the Memphis Grizzlies, Portland Trail Blazers, and San Antonio Spurs. Certainly not the territory they hoped to find themselves in after showing promising signs early in the season.
Looking back at their recent performances, the Rockets had a disappointing week, going 0-4 in their games. The defeats came at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves, who dominated with a 111-90 victory. They followed it up with a close loss against the Indiana Pacers, falling 132-129. This was then followed by a defeat by the struggling Toronto Raptors, 107-104, before succumbing to the Atlanta Hawks, 122-113.
However, the Rockets have an opportunity to turn things around this week with two games on their schedule before the All-Star break. First, they will host the resurgent New York Knicks, who have been performing exceptionally well lately with seven wins in their last ten games. This matchup will take place at the Toyota Center on Monday. Next, the Rockets will hit the road and travel to Memphis to face a Grizzlies team without their superstar guard Ja Morant. A win in this game would provide much-needed momentum going into the break. They will then have some time to rest before an upcoming matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday, February 22.
One can't help but wonder about the Rockets' objectives for the remainder of the season, especially considering their quiet trade deadline. Their only notable acquisition was Steven Adams, a player who won't be available to contribute until next season. With their current standing, the Rockets possess the ninth pick in the upcoming draft, which they would have to convey to the Oklahoma City Thunder due to the ill-fated Russell Westbrook trade in 2019. However, there is a top-four protection on this pick, meaning if it lands in the top four of the lottery, the Rockets will retain it. This leads to speculation about whether the Rockets, if their fortunes don't improve in the coming weeks, would deliberately lower their position in hopes of preserving their draft pick.
Despite this possibility, it seems unlikely given the Rockets' emphasis on player development and the presence of highly regarded prospects on their roster. Additionally, they are set to receive the eighth pick in the draft from the Brooklyn Nets as part of the James Harden trade in 2021. Head coach Ime Udoka is expected to continue experimenting with different lineups to gain a better understanding of his team and provide valuable playing time for their core group of prospects. While their primary focus remains on player development, Udoka surely hopes to set the team back on track for a chance at the play-in tournament. After a season that began with great promise, the Rockets find themselves spiraling downward, and it's up to them to reverse their fortunes.
