P.J. Tucker on Rockets’ championship chances: ‘Nobody can beat us’

P.J. Tucker is very confident in the Houston Rockets’ chances at winning it all this season. The forward said his team can beat anyone if they continue to play at their current pace.

Winning seems to solve everything.

The Rockets started the season 11-14, looking like the polar opposite of the team we saw in the 2017-18 season. However, they managed to turn it all around in the flowing months. Houston has won 18 of their last 22 games since the All-Star break, the best record in the NBA over that span.

The entire narrative around the Rockets has changed over the course of the season. Just when everyone was saying that Houston’s championship window had already closed, the Rockets again look like the biggest threat to the Warriors.

The attitude inside the locker room has changed as well. With James Harden, a contender for this season’s MVP award, and a healthy Chris Paul leading the way, the Rockets have become an increasingly confident group.

P.J. Tucker recently told ESPN’s Tim MacMahon that the Rockets can beat any team in the league if they continue to play at a high level.

“If we’re doing what we’re supposed to do, nobody can beat us. Anybody, don’t matter. … If we play at this level, we’re going to win. I don’t care who we play. If we play like we play tonight, we’re going to win.”

Since the All-Star break, the Rockets have dominated on both ends of the floor. Houston is second in the league in offensive rating, defensive rating and net rating over that span.

Injuries to both Chris Paul and Clint Capela were almost blessings in disguise for Houston, as both Austin Rivers and Kenneth Faried proved to be very valuable pick ups. Danuel House, who previously played in the G-League, has averaged 9.8 points on 42 percent shooting from 3-point range this season for Houston. His 6-foot-7 frame has also been invaluable to Houston’s defense, making him arguably Daryl Morey’s best addition of the season.

The Rockets are clearly a deeper team than they were last year and James Harden has somehow managed to take his game to another level, even after winning 2018’s MVP Award.

One thing is for certain: No team wants to face the blazing Rockets in the first-round of the playoffs.