While the Houston Rockets first-round loss to the Golden State Warriors could be seen as disappointing, the franchise had a realistic view of it's contention chances. NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that Houston did not view themselves as a true "championship threat" and that the team used the season to "evaluate" the roster.

Sunday night brought an air of finality at Toyota Center and not just because the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors concluded their first-round playoff series. That was the micro. In the macro,