Young Players Prove Houston Rockets Are On Right Track

 

The last three years the Houston Rockets have finished one spot outside of the playoffs.  That’s not good enough for a franchise that has made a habit out of participating in the postseason.  Over the last three years the Rockets have used the draft in an attempt to return to being a Western Conference power again and the play of their young players this season proves that they’re on the right track.

On Wednesday Rockets small forward Chandler Parsons was named to the 2013 BBVA Rising Stars Challenge.  The game brings together some of the most promising young players in the NBA to show off their talent.  Parsons becomes the first players from the Rockets organization to participate in the contest since 2009.

The 24-year-old Parsons, along with other young players like point guard Jeremy Lin and power forward Patrick Patterson, have played very well this season and have shown promising signs for the future of the Rockets franchise.  These three were joined this year by All-Star shooting guard James Harden who is coming off an NBA Finals appearance with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Rockets currently sit in eighth in the Western Conference with a 25-23 record.  But they have shown signs of what they are capable of and with a little more consistency in the second half of the season, could see themselves rapidly climbing the Western Conference standings.

Teams that are trying to rebuild through the draft the way the Rockets have been need validation that they are on the right track to keep in the same direction.  Parsons’ inclusion in the rising stars game over the NBA All-Star break, which will be in Houston, is that validation for the Rockets.  Naming him to the game shows that it is clear to the league that he is taking the necessary steps to becoming a star in the NBA which in turn proves that the Rockets front office are making wise decisions.

There still is work to be done as the frustratingly inconsistent play by the Rockets this season has seen them take steps forward followed by taking steps back in the attempt to become a contending team.  But with the play of some of their young players, they are showing that they have the capability to take that next step.  If they continue on this path they could be a contender in the Western Conference real soon.