Kevin McHale isn't saying the Rockets are the team to beat in the NBA.
But he certainly believes his team has the ability to take down any other team in the league with the instantly dangerous pick-and-roll duo of Dwight Howard and James Harden.
"We'll see," McHale said to Fran Blinebury of NBA.com on pairing Howard and Harden in the lineup. "I'm just looking forward to putting this team together, and then we can play with anybody."
With the NBA's youngest roster last season, the Rockets were the eighth seed in the playoffs and fell to Oklahoma City in the first round. McHale expects Howard to make the Rockets better.
"I think it's a great situation for our young guys and our team," McHale said. "I'm excited."
And of course the Hall of Fame coach had nothing but good things to say about Howard.
"When he's physically right, (Howard) goes out there and dominates the game in a lot of ways. He's a unique guy. He can score 10 points and totally dominate the game," McHale said. "There's only a few players in the NBA who can do that."
There was talk that Howard didn't quite fit in with the Lakers' scheme and there were times when headlines were made about him and Kobe Bryant butting heads, but McHale isn't worried about the same thing happening with the Rockets.
"He's going to add a great deal. James loves to pass and loves to drive and kick. We move the ball pretty well as a team and he should fit in pretty well with us," McHale said.
