The Houston Rockets admit they are unlikely to compete for the Western Conference crown this season, though there are expectations of marked growth from last year’s 20-win campaign. Head coach Stephen Silas noted Monday he believes the Rockets will be “super hard to play against,” while general manager Rafael Stone said Houston “should be improving on a daily basis.”
So what’s behind Houston’s relative optimism? A player with zero NBA minutes to date, they believe, could be a driving factor.
“He’s such a gifted defensive player, like now,” Silas said of Rockets rookie Jabari Smith on Monday.