So What Do The Rockets Do Now?

In case you missed it, last night Chris Paul pulled his hammy on this play

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I don’t know how credible Peter Vecsey’s sources are or anything like that, but let’s just assume his 6-8 week timeline is right. I checked and neither Woj or Shams had anything, but to be without Paul for nearly 2 months would be a devastating blow for the Rockets. You look at his on/off numbers and it gives you an idea of his impact on this team. The’r Drtg balloons from 105 to 112.9, their assist% drops from 57.7% to 53.6%, and looking at their depth chart it’s not exactly stocked with legit options. You had reports talking about how they were entertaining the idea of trying to move Brandon Knight and a 1st round pick which according to reports has brought back zero interest, because why would it.

So what options to the Rockets have? Well if you’re a fan of this team I’m not sure you love your options.

Hmmm. The Rockets are technically a playoff contender, they do have a need for a PG, their depth chart suggests there would be regular minutes for an extended period of time. Seeing as how Austin Rivers was bought out by the Suns, it’s almost a certainty he ends up in Houston right? It’s either that or give Michael Carter-Williams minutes which no one should be forced to do, and look, Rivers is coming off a year in which he made 2.2 3PM a night and while he has DRASTICALLY regressed so far this season, what choices do the Rockets have?

At this point they need some sort of body to fill this role, I would imagine Eric Gordon will remain a starter, and who knows what they are going to get from Knight once he hits the floor, so if you’re the Rockets I think you have to bring Rivers in as he’s the best option available right now. This injury comes at a tough time for the Rockets who had started to put things together, and it’s going to put even more pressure on Harden who already has the highest usage rate of his career at 37.2%. Given the whole they have to dig out of since they started so poorly, you have to be somewhat concerned with him burning out by the time Spring rolls around.

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Look is Rivers good? Meh

as a player he doesn’t really fit how the Rockets play, but if anyone can do wonders for a point guard it’s probably Mike D’Antoni. If Paul really is out nearly two months and this is the Rockets solution, I don’t know how you feel great about their situation.

I won’t even get into the fact that a 33 year old Paul is continuing to have hamstring issues which isn’t ideal given this contract

because honestly Rockets fans have been through enough.