3 Lessons the Houston Rockets can learn from this year's playoffs

3. Durability matters

OK, fine. We all knew that durability mattered. A player can't impact winning if they can't stay on the floor.

Still, this year's postseason has driven that fact home. The Milwaukee Bucks suffered a devastating loss in the first round. After injuries to Giannis Antetokuomnpo and Damian Lillard, they didn't have a chance.

Meanwhile, the Pelicans were missing Zion Williamson against the Thunder. That's nothing new - Williamson is among the most injury-prone players in the NBA.

What's the lesson here? Nobody can avoid injuries. Still, the Rockets can factor projected durability into their thinking when they decide who is going to be the core of this team moving forward.

When they get back in the playoffs, that could go a long way.