HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 16: Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta (2nd L) and general manager Daryl Morey look on from courtside against the San Antonio Spurs at Toyota Center on October 16, 2019 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey seems confident that his team can upset the favored Los Angeles Lakers in the second round.
Rockets general manager Daryl Morey took note of his team’s underdog status in the conference semifinals on Twitter, sharing a screenshot of an ESPN panel unanimously picking the Lakers and tagging Freezing Cold Takes, a popular Twitter account which reminds users of inaccurate sports predictions.
Morey’s tweet, while simple, is a vote of confidence in Houston’s talent and roster construction. The longtime general manager has never been afraid to make bold roster decisions and went all-in on the small-ball movement at the trade deadline this season when he traded Clint Capela to the Atlanta Hawks.
Daryl Morey’s bold roster decisions may present some problems against the Lakers
While he still has two league MVPs on the roster in Russell Westbrook and James Harden, Morey would be foolish not to be concerned about Houston’s ability to match the size the Lakers can throw at them.
Robert Covington is the tallest player in Houston’s rotation at 6-foot-7, and putting him or the 6-foot-5 P.J. Tucker on the 6-foot-11 Anthony Davis seems like a recipe for disaster. With LeBron James, Dwight Howard, and JaVale McGee all likely to attack the rim as well, Houston could face some massive struggles defensively.
Morey appears to be banking on his team’s offensive firepower, with Harden leading the way. After some struggles from behind the arc in Houston’s first-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, there is considerable pressure on Harden to carry the scoring load against a talented Los Angeles team.
Having Russell Westbrook back healthy should certainly give the Rockets the offensive boon that they desperately need to get past the Lakers, but Morey’s confidence may ultimately prove to be misplaced. Without a stellar offensive performance or a demonstrated ability to match up with the Lakers’ bigs in the post, Houston could be in for a rough series.