Houston Rockets: Five bold predictions for the 2017-18 season

2.  Chris Paul will average a career high in assists this season

Chris Paul’s career high in assists is 11.6 per game. The Houston Rockets play at a pace that exceeds that of any team that Paul has suited up for. Houston was fourth in the NBA in assists per game at 24.6 per game on 40.2 shots made per game.

Houston’s already impressive 61.2 percent assist rate is only going to improve by adding arguably the best point guard to play the game. Paul’s 3.84 assist-to-turnover ratio will contribute to a great deal of happiness in Houston and a great deal of headaches.

Paul will take some risks in his passing game but he will be buttressed against some willing lob recipients – most notably, Clint Capela. Houston’s bevy of off the ball shooters will feast on Paul and Harden’s playmaking and facilitating skills as well. Look for an even more potent offense based on these contributions.

3.  Houston will challenge the NBA Team 3-Point Shooting Record

The 1996-97 Charlotte Hornets posted three-point shooting clip of 42.8 percent. That Hornets team played at an 88.6 possessions per game pace. The Houston Rockets shatter that at 100 possessions per game. That doesn’t even tell the half of it.

Those Hornets attempted roughly 17 threes a game. The Houston Rockets currently are right about 40 attempts per game. Houston’s ability to space the floor and practice variable pacing with Paul and Harden is going to leave a lot of shooters open. Even Houston’s defensive stoppers this year post impressive catch and shoot or corner three-point percentages.

What this all means is that Rockets fans are going to be delighted to the tune of about 51 points per game on three-pointers. Houston is going to bomb it from deep and is built to do so.