Will the Houston Rockets Be Contenders in the Western Conference?

After an early exit in last year's playoffs, Houston fans are eager for another attempt. Even with the disappointing finish to last season, expectations for the Houston Rockets are still high.

These high expectations are based on merit, and there are signs of improvement along with beneficial changes that are encouraging for the franchise. Success is in reach, but only time will tell if Houston will grasp it

.One of the biggest factors that stopped Houston last season was the injuries to Fred VanVleet and Kevin Durant. Fred VanVleet tore an ACL, which forced him to miss the entire season. The reports on his injury status state that he is likely to be ready for the beginning of the upcoming season.

Not only that, but he is also looking stronger and more determined than previously. They say “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”, and it seems that VanVleet has taken this to heart and is ready to showcase the truth behind the statement.

Kevin Durant, on the other hand, was injured in the postseason. He has recovered from his injuries, but management will likely be more cautious with his playing time and take pressure off of him moving forward. Houston’s front office has done this already by adding to the roster depth and putting trust in the rest of the roster to take a load off of Durant.

Another crucial factor that stopped Houston from reaching their high expectations was their perimeter shooting and shot creation through floor spacing. To deal with this, Houston recently hired one of the best in the game: Chip Engelland.Engelland was hired to be the assistant manager under Ime Udoka. Engelland has a polished career and a high caliber track record, which has earned him the name “Shot Doctor”.

The Rockets have one of the best defenses in the league, and a very promising young core, which is a perfect recipe for the Shot Doctor to cook with. He is know in turning elite defenders into great shooters.

With all of these pieces falling into place at seemingly the right time, the Rockets are set to be a serious threat to the rest of the NBA. There hasn’t been a single huge transaction or change to catapult the franchise into being a true contender, but all these steps are gearing them towards a successful season and being one of the strongest teams in the Western Conference.

Is there any reason to believe that the Rockets will not be true contenders?