As the Houston Rockets have gotten off to a relatively strong start to the regular season, their 6-3 record is a pretty solid indicator of the highs and lows they have experienced to this point.
Yet, their brutal 121-110 loss to the San Antonio Spurs in their first matchup of NBA Cup group play may have taken on outsized importance. It could kill the Rockets' chances at making a run in the in-season tournament.
While, ultimately, the NBA Cup is not a measure of the success of the season, it could represent an important opportunity for this new iteration of Houston to find some more cohesion as the season wears on.