The Rockets must improve transition D in potential matchup with Lakers

For the Houston Rockets to win the NBA title this season, they’ll likely have to go through one of the L.A. teams, which will call for some improvements.

With a combined average winning percentage of 73.3, it’s hard to fault just about every NBA analyst for believing the Western Conference Finals will come down to Los Angeles versus Los Angeles. The Houston Rockets, while certainly having the personnel to separate themselves in the West, haven’t quite done so yet.

Holding onto the sixth seed as the season officially resumes later this month, the Rockets have made it clear they’re focused on a deep playoff run on the shoulders of James Harden and Russell Westbrook. Houston will have eight games to move further up in the standings — a decision which might just come down to matchups since homecourt advantage is no longer a factor this season.

If Mike D’Antoni’s squad wants to make it to the NBA Finals, the chances are high that they’ll have to face the top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers on the way. The Rockets dropped game one of the season series to LeBron James and company in January but had an impressive victory at Staples Center directly after trading for Robert Covington.

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