Knicks' upset loss shows the Rockets exactly what they're missing

The Hawks have jumped out to a 2-1 series lead against the Knicks behind the late-game heroics of veteran guard CJ McCollum. McCollum is making the Rockets realize how desperately they need a player of his archetype, a steady hand who can run the offense and get his own bucket when needed. Adding McCollum at the trade deadline would have helped the Rockets overcome some of their glaring weaknesses now and potentially pick up some playoff wins.

CJ McCollum would have been a perfect fit in Houston

In the end, the Hawks stumbled into McCollum largely by accident when they traded Trae Young to the Wizards. Young had reached an impasse with Atlanta and Washington was the only team willing to give him a contract extension. As a result, the Hawks lucked into a clutch scorer just in time for a surprise playoff run.

McCollum adds a lot to the Hawks as a secondary scorer and shooter. Although he's normally behind Jalen Johnson and even Nickeil Alexander-Walker in the offensive hierarchy, McCollum is capable of playing different roles so he retains value either as a spot-up threat or with the ball in his hands. This level of offensive versatility would be perfect next to the Rockets' own potent but flawed offensive superstar in Kevin Durant.

The Rockets have known since the beginning of the season that they lacked an experienced guard option to steady the offense. Fred VanVleet's ACL tear during preseason was a huge loss, but yet the Rockets chose not to act and fill that void. As a result, they now find themselves with obvious flaws that opponents can easily exploit in a playoff setting.

The Rockets could have avoided playoff failure with McCollum

Clearly, adding McCollum would have given the Rockets another reliable option for generating efficient offense. He's a veteran now in his 13th season and has nearly 10 years of experience as a 20 points-per-game scorer. Not only that, McCollum has hardened his playoff mettle after years of disappointment in the West against juggernaut teams like the Warriors.

After falling against such an unstoppable force early in his career, McCollum no longer has any level of fear in clutch situations against any opponent. This utter self-confidence can be damaging in a young player, but McCollum's experience has given him the wisdom to use his mindset strategically. He knows which matchups he can attack effectively and how to turn his game up in the most important moments. All of these are the exact elements the Rockets need in their backcourt right now.

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