NBA: Rockets Star Knows Warriors Are Up to Something Next Season

James Harden will be looking to lead the Houston Rockets again this 2019-20 NBA season in a stacked Western Conference. While most are wary of what the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers are capable of, the 2018 NBA MVP feels the Golden State Warriors are another team that cannot be taken for granted.

The Warriors lost Kevin Durant but still have it's original Big Three. Stephen Curry and Draymond Green are expected to carry much of the load next season with Klay Thompson still recovering from an ACL injury. But as mentioned in a previous post, the 29-year-old guard could return as early as February if he heals up quickly.

The Dubs will be severely undermanned once the 2019-20 NBA season starts. However, the seven-time All-Star believes that the Warriors remain good and that it would be foolish to overlook them in an interview with Vanity Fair.

“For me, I don’t care who I go against. Obviously, we all know the team that was really very, very good for these last few years. They’ll still be good, for sure,” said Harden. “You can’t overlook them. So I’m just excited for the new year. Another opportunity to bring home a championship.”

The Lakers and the Clippers landed key acquisitions that make the Western Conference highly competitive. However, the Rockets did add more muscle on their end when they traded Chris Paul for Russell Westbrook. With two established stars manning the backcourt, Houston remains a force.

For the Rockets, the big question is how to preserve Harden and Westbrook. In a previous post, it was mentioned how Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey plans to employ load management for both stars. This is to make sure that they are their peak once the NBA playoffs come around.

The Rockets are looking to improve on last NBA season's woeful finish. They were eliminated in the NBA Western Conference semifinals in six games to the Warriors. And while he did not mention it, this could be one of the reasons why the third overall pick of the 2009 NBA Draft believes the Dubs remain dangerous.