The Houston Rockets have yet to find answers on why they are struggling to get wins this season. Despite having a relatively healthy roster, they can't seem to find the right blend to win games.
According to their interim head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, they need to find solutions for their mediocre defense. The coach said that they are indeed a capable defensive team but the consistency is just not there.
"Our defensive level needs to be at a point where it doesn't matter who our opponent is," Bickerstaff told ESPN. "We should be able to get stops. We see it in flashes, you see it in flurries. It's the same team that scored 18 on us [in the second quarter], the same that scored 36 and 34 points in a quarter as well."
"We're the same defensive team that held them to 18 points. We're the same team that was down 10 points with three minutes to go and get stop after stop after stop to give us an opportunity to win the game."
Just a month ago, it was reported that some players were frustrated with James Harden's brand of basketball. It was evident during the course of the season, the bearded star is once again lacking effort on defense and as his teammates describe it, he is playing "aloof."
A report from Chris Sheridan of Sheridan Hoops also indicates that star center is not pleased with Harden's play and is now uncomfortable being the fifth option in the offensive end behind Harden, Ariza, Thornton and Jones.
"Dwight Howard is extremely unhappy in Houston playing second fiddle to alpha dog James Harden, multiple league sources tell SheridanHoops.com," as quoted by NBC Sports.
Moreover, Dwight Howard will be a free agent by the end of this season and he can walk away if he wants to. That leads to a possibility of Howard being traded to at least get some assets in return.
"Howard can opt out this summer, and Houston already has a viable replacement starting center - Clint Capela, who's nine years younger than Howard. Both factors nudge the needle toward a trade. Howard being unhappy would push it even further," NBC Sports' Dan Feldman wrote.
