Houston Rockets Have Trouble Scoring In The Paint

The Houston Rockets have been notorious over the years for shooting the most three-pointers in the league year after year, but now they will have to adapt and incorporate the big man back into their rotation. Last season, the Rockets finished 25th in the league in points in the paint and it has cost them big time over the years. 

Sure, shooting and making three-pointers will win you a lot of games, but that is if you are making them. When it mattered most, the Rockets missed their three-pointers and although Rockets’ fans will not want to talk about it, look at the 2018 Western Conference Finals. In Game 7 of the 2018 WCF, the Rockets shot 7-44 (15.9%) from three-point range, ultimately costing them a chance of making the NBA Finals. 

If the Rockets are going to remain relevant in a crowded Western Conference, they need to be aggressive and improve on scoring in the paint. Christian Wood should help the Rockets in this department, but DeMarcus Cousins can really change things for the Rockets. Over the course of his 9-year career, DeMarcus Cousins has averaged between 16 and 17 points per game in the paint. 

There is no telling if Cousins can return to this type of role after the injuries he has suffered, but he is still an extremely big body to guard and in the paint, he will still be an offensive threat. With the Warriors in 2019, it was clear to see Cousins was not his old self, but he still averaged 16.3 points and 8.2 rebounds in 30 games. If Houston can get just that from Cousins, they will be thrilled and have a solid one-two punch with him and Wood. 

Rebounding and being a threat in the low-post are two things Cousins is notorious for and should fit in nicely with the Rockets. He does not need to be the 4x All-Star talent he once was, but if he can be just half of that, then signing him would turn into a major win for the Rockets.