3 questions for the Rockets as season resumes

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What seemed like an uncertainty not more than a few months ago has now turned into a reality -- basketball is finally back.

The N.B.A. has done all its needed to do. They've procured a site to host games, planned a scheduling format, and kept the players from contracting the virus. The teams are here, they've been scrimmaging, and are close to top shape. All that's left now is to play.

No team might have a bigger amount of variables than the Houston Rockets. Coming into the season's sudden pause, they were struggling mightily, dropping games they were expected to win and lacking a real defensive presence. A few weeks prior, they were showcasing an elite tandem with James Harden and Russell Westbrook, which lead the team to as high as the third seed in the western conference. They've since begun to employ a lineup consisting of smaller, more athletic players, affectionately dubbed "Small-Ball," which aims to utilize the team's wealth of shooters and Harden's and Westbrook's athleticism.

There's a lot to think about when it comes to Houston, and even more to think about in terms of questions. These are the most burning questions I have for the Rockets heading into the season restart.

1. How fresh is Harden?

A common theme amongst James Harden seasons is that he tends to get "gassed" late in the year and into the playoffs. Whether or not its an excuse or a legitimate concern varies from person to person, but one would imagine that it can't be easy averaging 30+ points a game for an entire season with virtually no games off.

However, things are different now. James Harden has had around four months to rest his body while remaining generally conditioned. In fact, it was revealed that Harden seemed to have lost weight during his time away from basketball.

Harden was in the midst of one of his best statistical seasons ever prior to the N.B.A.'s pause, averaging 34.4 points per game on 43.5% shooting, to go along with 7.4 assists per game and 6.4 rebounds per game. He was also shooting around 35% from three.

While the term "rested" could apply to literally every other player in the league, giving a former MVP time to recuperate in the middle of the season could do wonders for Harden's efficiency and decision-making. It would also help to get he and the rest of the team out of the funk they were in prior to the season's pause, which saw them slip to the sixth in the western conference.

If Harden's reimagined training and conditioning proves to be effective, it could be the just the thing that has Harden playing his best right when the playoffs begin.

2. Who will stand in for Eric Gordon?

Eric Gordon will not be with the team when the season starts after injuring his ankle in a scrimmage against the Celtics. Even before then, however, he was wildly inefficient -- he was shooting a measly 37% from the field, easily the worst among rotation regulars (only Michael Frazier, who only played in eight games, was worse). Additionally, his three point percentage isn't nearly up to par with what he usually is expected to have, with a 31.9% three-point percentage that was bad enough for second-worst on the team, only behind Russell Westbrook.

He didn't seem to have improved much during his time off, either. During the scrimmages, Gordon shot 34.4% from the field and an atrocious 15% from three prior to getting injured. His timing looked off, his shot selection was questionable, and he simply looked flat-out bad.

Of course, everyone can improve eventually (they're professionals, after all), but in a shortened rest of the season, every game matters. If Gordon is unable to get things going for the rest of the season, who will step up for him?

A name that comes to mind is Ben McLemore. A sleeper acquisition in the offseason, McLemore has been a steal for the Rockets. Before the season was halted, he was shooting 44.5% from the field and almost 40%(!) from three. He was shown to be durable too -- he played in 63 games for the Rockets, second most on the team behind P.J. Tucker. He started 19 games as well.

The former 2013 top-ten pick fits in exceptionally well with Houston. When he and Harden share the floor, the Rockets outscore teams by an insane 13.1 points per 100 possessions. That number is a respectable 5.1 with Westbrook. Additionally, the Rockets have their best lineup statistically in terms of net rating when McLemore is on the court.

His biggest issue, admittedly, is his defense, in which he is sorely lacking. It was a main proponent of why he received not a lot of playing time despite his scorching numbers from the field. His defensive rating is third worst on the Rockets, a team that is already struggling to contain teams defensively. That issue will only be highlighted should he be given more time in Gordon's absence, especially against the powerhouses of the western conference. The question for coach Mike D'Antoni will be if he wants to almost entirely forsake defense for a maximum-threat offense.

In the event that he doesn't, D'Antoni may be more inclined to role with Danuel House Jr. While not as lethal of a shooter, House has been the one who has started in place of Gordon when needed, and is more comfortable with playing defense than McLemore is.

House is more than a serviceable role player. A versatile player who can play the guard and wing position, House was averaging 10.2 PPG on 42.7% from the field, to go along with 36.3% from three.

It is expected that House will likely fill in for Gordon during his absence, given how often he's come in for Gordon in the past. Coach D'Antoni reiterated as much during a press conference yesterday. "I would expect Danuel House to start. He's done that with Gordon out [before]."

Still, D'Antoni might choose to split time between the two at the position in Gordon's absence. Regardless, the two will have to perform well when given the opportunity to contribute

in spots that Gordon has had trouble in throughout the season.

3. Will RoCo complete the puzzle?

Perhaps the riskiest signing of all for Daryl Morey in the Mike D'Antoni era was trading franchise cornerstone and dominant big man Clint Capela, in a four-team deal that brought Timberwolves' forward Robert Covington to the team. It signified a substantial change in the organization -- that Morey was committed to seeing if small-ball could work.

So far, the early verdict has been mixed. Impressive wins against the Lakers and Celtics have come with embarrassing losses to the Knicks and Magic. It's to be expected in the ebbs and flows of a season, and perhaps these games aren't exactly correlated with small-ball, but these are the results nonetheless.

As for Covington himself, he's performed admirably. Sitting at a sound 12.8 PPG on 43.2% from the field with 6.4 rebounds, he's done everything the Rockets have asked him to do so far. The rebound numbers are a little low, but that's how it is when you're the team's "center" at 6'7". On the plus side, he's been averaging almost eight rebounds since coming to Houston.

His defense is what's really stood out, however. Along with being able to guard the league's best big men (he did an exceptional job containing Anthony Davis in his debut against the Lakers), he's been a block machine. Since coming to Houston, he's averaged 2.5 blocks a game, good enough for the 18th spot in the block leaderboards. The last Houston player to average at least 2.5 blocks a game? Hakeem Olajuwon.

Obviously, Covington is no Dream (though it would be nice if he would develop a Dream-Shake-type move), but his efficiency and production has made up for the sizable hole Capela left when he was traded. Should he continue his pace, he'll prove to be an invaluable asset offensively and defensively for Mike D'Antoni's crew, especially as the playoffs near.