The Houston Rockets got together in the Bahamas this week to bond and play basketball before training camp begins and shooting guard Eric Gordon says it was important to build chemistry ahead of the season.
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The Rockets players went to the Bahamas last year prior to the start of the 2017-18 season and went on to have the best regular season in franchise history. Houston lost to the Golden State Warriors in seven games in the Western Conference Finals. The Rockets took a 3-2 series lead heading into Game 6, but Chris Paul missed Games 6 and 7 with a hamstring injury and the team wasn’t able to close out the series without its All-Star floor general.
One of the reasons Gordon believes the bonding trip was crucial is because Houston’s roster will look a little different this season. The team lost Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute in free agency, two big losses considering Ariza and Mbah a Moute are talented perimeter defenders. The Rockets, though, made some valuable additions after losing Ariza and Mbah a Moute. Along with James Ennis, Houston signed Carmelo Anthony and Michael Carter–Williams.
“It can help us a lot,” Gordon told Mark Berman of Fox26 of the bonding trip.“Something like this can go a long way. It’s all about how all of us have one goal and being around each other more. When you have good chemistry, those are the teams that always do well.”
Anthony signed a one-year, $2.4 million deal with the Rockets. The veteran scorer averaged a career-low 16.2 points per game during the 2017-18 regular season with the Oklahoma City Thunder and shot only 40.4 percent from the field and 35.7 percent from beyond the arc.
Gordon, though, says Anthony is in good shape and ready for the season.
“He’s ready. He’s in good shape,” Gordon said. “He’s going to probably have to shoot more threes than ever. It’s going to take some small adjustments just like how Chris adjusted to shooting more threes. I think we’re as good as ever.”
