Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey downplayed his team’s chances of winning an NBA title during a local radio appearance Tuesday.
“I think there are probably at least three teams better than us if not more,” Morey said during an appearance on SportsRadio610 in Houston. “Until you’re going into a season felling like you are the top one or two I think it’s, and we haven’t really accomplished anything, I think it’s hard to talk about ‘hey we’re one of the favorites to win the championship.’ But I do think we go in with a chance, where as we haven’t in the last few years.”
Morey believes the Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs should all be favoured over his Rockets but also said the Indiana Pacers and Chicago Bulls should be considered among the league’s best as well.
“I think those three, I would say going in for sure are better than us, and they’ve definitely proven more,” Morey said. “I think the Bulls and the Pacers they’re very good as well this year. I am hoping we are in the mix with them, maybe equal quality.”
Over the past 13 months, Morey signed top free agent Dwight Howard and acquired James Harden to his roster. He believes the addition of Howard vaults his young Rockets into contention.
“We go in (to the season) with two of the top ten players in the league,” Morey said of Howard and James Harden. “We go in with a young roster, the youngest of the teams that are, I think, in contention.”
“We’ve got a very good team with the ability to improve. Time will tell how good.”
