Daryl Morey Says ‘At Least’ 3 Teams Are Better Than the Rockets

Lying, deflecting and evading are (probably) in their job description. Nothing the NBA’s maneuvering minds say can be taken at face value—most of the time. On certain occasions, however, there are moments of clarity. Sometimes, they can be genuine and truthful.

This is one of those times.

Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey joined MaD Radio in Houston to talk about his team’s potential heading into next season. When asked about the Rockets’ ability to win a title this coming year, he acknowledged that they weren’t in the best immediate position, according to CBS Houston:

I think there are probably at least three teams better than us if not more. Until you’re going into a season feeling like you are the top one or two I think it’s, and we haven’t really accomplished anything, I think it’s hard to talk about ‘hey we’re one of the favorites to win the championship.’ But I do think we go in with a chance, where as we haven’t in the last few years.

Honesty. I like it. He may also have sugarcoated it. Like seriously sugarcoated it. I’m talking powdered-donut-with-extra-powder-and-a-side-Splenda sugarcoated it.

The Rockets are not the fourth-best team in the NBA. So let’s get that out of the way right now. Are they better? If they come to their senses and refuse to allow Dwight Howard to play power forward, then yes. Are they a playoff team? Absolutely. Is James Harden’s beard still the bushiest of them all? You know it. But fourth best? In the league? Don’t be silly.

Morey wasn’t necessarily saying they were fourth nor was he really implying it. That “at least” covers his behind. In phrasing it like that, however, he does loop the Rockets into the elitist conversation, like there’s a shadow of an argument that they are in the top four or five when, really, they aren’t.

Are these two enough to make Houston a title contender (via Dwight Howard’s Instagram)?

We’ve got the Miami Heat at No. 1. That’s a fact. If you think otherwise then you either a) have information on Dwyane Wade’s knee that I don’t, b) are planning a regular season filled with bad decisions or c) are the same person who once told me Gerald Henderson had MVP potential.

After that, the field is a tad more open. Chances are the next few teams would likely come from the Western Conference. As high as I am on the New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers, I doubt any of those three teams will outperform the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs. Then there’s the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers to consider. Those two are pretty damn good, and I’m expecting big things from the Dubs. Don’t forget about the Memphis Grizzlies either. I did once. And I looked foolish. Tweety-Bird-sporting-a-fedora foolish.

Right there, that’s nine times—Heat, Bulls, Knicks, Pacers, Warriors, Clippers, Spurs, Thunder and Grizzlies—”at least” seven of which I project to fare better than Houston. Toss in dark horses like the Brooklyn Nets, Denver Nuggets and (here it comes) a Los Angeles Lakers team playing over their head, and the Rockets could find themselves in the middle of the pack, not near the front next season.

Which isn’t to say Morey is mistaken. He built a helluva team. But there are still so many questions that need answering, the two most pressing of which center on Howard and Omer Asik’s ability to coexist, and Howard and Harden’s ability to thrive alongside one another. Superman is fresh off a stint in Los Angeles where he couldn’t play nice next to Kobe Bryant, another ball-dominating shooting guard. And he couldn’t excel alongside Pau Gasol, a fellow tower with far more range than Asik.

Assuming all the pieces fit then maybe, just maybe, the Rockets have a top-eight team on their hands. Problem is, we can’t assume it’s going to work. Assuring ourselves that Houston is headed for the worst is futile as well. Until we know anything it’s best to recognize the Rockets for what they are—impressive on paper, but multiple players away from winning an NBA title.