NBA Season Preview 2017-18: 5 ways everything goes right for the Rockets

HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 19: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets and Chris Paul #3 of the Los Angeles Clippers shake hands before the game on December 19, 2015 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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3. The Rockets need to learn how to play together

General Manager Daryl Morey sacrificed a great deal of his roster’s depth in order to acquire Chris Paul. Patrick Beverly, Lou Williams, Sam Dekker all figured to play big roles and Montrezl Harrell and Kyle Wiltjer were both expected to be retained. While the talent level on this coming Rockets team is probably greater than the previous one that won 55 games last year, that doesn’t guarantee success. Coach Mike D’Antoni needs to figure out how to most effectively use a number of new players and they need to quickly get acclimated to playing with each other to get the best of this Rockets team.

Morey made a number of moves to acquire veterans this summer to help offset those losses, however. Chris Paul’s acquisition should make up for the loss of Williams and Beverly. Houston signed P.J. Tucker and Luc Mbah a Moute to cover for the loss of Dekker and add toughness to the team. One of Tarik Black, Cameron Oliver or Chinanu Okuaku should be able to fill Harrell’s role. And finally, former second round pick Qi Zhou is likely a better use of a roster spot than Wiltjer.

Just how quickly can this Rockets team learn how to play together? Even if Harden and Paul truly work hard at playing with each other, it will take time to hone. Patrick Beverly played next to James Harden for five full seasons; there is real value to the level of continuity that comes with that. The Rockets as a whole faced massive turnover last season and the pieces turned out to fit together, but this season’s team will have to learn to play with both Paul and Harden at the helm. The Rockets have to prove that the pieces fit together well again this season as a whole.