Fansided

NBA Season Preview 2018-19: Every team’s best case scenario

By John Hugar

SHANGHAI, CHINA - OCTOBER 08: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates with Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors during the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors as part of 2017 NBA Global Games China at Mercedes-Benz Arena on October 8, 2017 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - OCTOBER 08: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates with Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors during the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors as part of 2017 NBA Global Games China at Mercedes-Benz Arena on October 8, 2017 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images) /
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HOUSTON, TX – MAY 28: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets looks on during the game against the Golden State Warriors during Game Seven of the Western Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 28, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – MAY 28: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets looks on during the game against the Golden State Warriors during Game Seven of the Western Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 28, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Houston Rockets

Remember all that stuff I said about Dwight in the Wizards entry? it all goes for Melo here, except on a better team with more to lose.I’ll be honest, I’m skeptical of how much people are down on the Rockets. Are we forgetting how dominant they were when CP3-Harden-Capela were all playing? Are we forgetting that if Chris Paul doesn’t get hurt mess the last two games of the Warriors series, they might have won, and the entire conversation around the league would be different right now? Does Melo really screw them up that much? (Side question: was Trevor Ariza as important as he’s been made out to be?)

I’m dubious; Melo had a bad year, but it’s like he derailed a juggernaut. The Thunder lost in the first round in 2017, too, and Oladipo thrived after leaving town. None of this is to say Melo doesn’t carry his share of risks. I just don’t see him as the singularly poisonous element that people seem to think he is. Best-case scenario is that he learns from the backlash he’s receiving, and learns to buy into a system not entirely focused on him. Basically, if Olympic Melo shows, a repeat of last year’s win total isn’t out of the question, and the Warriors better look out.