Three questions the Rockets face heading into training camp
With training camp about to tip off, here’s what to watch for as your favorite team prepares for the 2015-16 season. Some of these questions will be answered quickly; others could linger into the regular season. Either way, here are three things that will define the first month of this new season:
How will James Harden work with a more dominant point guard in Ty Lawson?
There's a fine line between shouldering too much responsibility and feeling like you need more touches, and it will be interesting to see how James Harden adjusts to playing next to a point guard who is used to having the ball in his hands an awful lot. Harden shouldn't have to absolutely carry the offense like he did last year.
But will he be okay with that? And will Dwight Howard be more comfortable working primarily in pick-and-roll instead of down on the block? The talent is unquestioned; the chemistry is what to watch for.
Who will win the starting power forward job: Terrence Jones or Donatas Motiejunas?
The big position battle to watch is at power forward, where Terrence Jones and Donatas Motiejunas should fight it out for the starting job. While Trevor Ariza will likely shift to the 4 in smaller lineups this season, Jones will probably get the first crack at the job, as Motiejunas was effective filling in for Dwight at the 5 last year.
Both young forwards will be playing for their next contracts, which tends to impact players in different ways. Jones makes more sense from a skill-set perspective for now, but he needs to become much more consistent on the glass for Houston to be truly stacked at every spot.
Can everyone stay healthy this year?
No news will be good news from Rockets training camp. After losing Patrick Beverley, Dwight Howard and Donatas Motiejunas, among others, for long stretches last year, the Rockets should be thrilled to have a team at full strength.
Motiejunas may take some time to recover still, but for the most part, the Rockets will just need to survive until the postseason. This is a championship contender, barring multiple injuries.
