The Houston Rockets May be Better than You Think in 2009-10

To put it lightly, it's been something of an interesting offseason for the Houston Rockets. Since taking the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers to the limit in the Western Conference semifinals last May, the Rockets' roster has undergone quite the makeover. The team learned that franchise cornerstone Yao Ming, who suffered a season-ending foot injury during the semifinals, could miss the entire upcoming season, and possibly more. Tracy McGrady, who recently underwent microfracture surgery on his left knee, may not be available until after the All-Star break. Last, but certainly not least, Ron Artest, who became one of the leaders of the Rockets during the playoffs, bolted to the Lakers as a free agent. This summer, the Rockets have acquired small forward Trevor Ariza through free agency, center David Andersen through a trade, and drafted swingmen Chase Budinger and Jermaine Taylor. With their "Big Three" from last season all but toast, what should we expect from ...