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Following the departure of James Harden, the Houston Rockets have started a new era in their franchise. The new-look Rockets might be missing a former MVP and three-time scoring champion but that isn't deterring them from giving their best every night. Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns are blowing away the league with their new backcourt of Chris Paul and Devin Booker and have started the season on a phenomenal 7-5 record.
Best starting 5 between the Phoenix Suns and the Houston Rockets
In the blockbuster four-team trade that sent James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets, a lot of players changed teams and which led to the Houston Rockets receiving a bunch of assets in return. Victor Oladipo is starting a new chapter in his career with the Houston Rockets alongside John Wall in the backcourt. The combined starting 5 of these two teams is extremely talented and could also be considered a championship worthy contender. Here is the best combined starting 5 featuring players from the Phoenix Suns and the Houston Rockets.
Point Guard - Chris Paul (Phoenix Suns)
Chris Paul's addition to the Phoenix Suns lineup has already been a great success. The veteran point guard along with Devin Booker has led the Phoenix Suns to a 7-5 record with the team sitting at 4th in the Western Conference. CP3's elite playmaking skills and leadership have definitely made it easier for other players on his team to score.
Chris Paul is, without a doubt, one of the best point guards in the game, he has several accolades and achievements under his belt and continues to impress in his 17th year in the league. The Houston Rockets' point guard John Wall is listed out for the game and hence wasn't considered for this combined starting 5.
Shooting Guard - Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns)
The young phenom Devin Booker was the obvious choice for the 2-guard position. He is the only active player with a 70-point game and according to Paul himself, was the main reason for his decision to come to the Phoenix Suns.
It's a very widely accepted belief in the league that Devin Booker will be in the running for MVP honors in not to distant future. At this moment, the 24-year-old is averaging 22 Points, 4 Assits and 3 Rebounds per game.
Small Forward - Victor Oladipo (Houston Rockets)
Although he is a guard, Victor Oladipo's defensive capabilities enable him to succeed in the Small Foward position. Devin Booker and Victor Oladipo could rotate for the same position which makes this combined starting 5 even more lethal in the backcourt.
Victor Oladipo was a star with the Indiana Pacers but suffered a major injury which did derail his career somewhat. But since the start of the 2020-21 campaign, he has looked like his old self, and last week, in the blockbuster James Harden trade, he was shipped out to the Houston Rockets.
Oladipo is capable of getting his own shot and has shown high production during clutch moments, he could be the Houston Rockets' new franchise player if he continues to play at a high level.
Power Forward - Christian Wood (Houston Rockets)
The 25-year old forward, Christian Wood has shown incredible promise in his 1st season for the Houston Rocket. If Wood continues to produce at the level that is currently doing, he could very well be in the running for the 'Most Improved Player' award.
He is averaging a whopping 23.8 points per game this season, a huge improvement from his 13.1 points per game last season. Wood is also starting every game as a center and is playing more minutes than he has ever played in his career.
Even the 3-point shot, with which Wood used to struggle earlier, has improved significantly looking at the small size of this season.
Center - Deandre Ayton (Phoenix Suns)
Young center Deandre Ayton struggled a bit last season during the regular season, but has been excellent for the Phoenix Suns recently. He is steadily improving in his production and is constantly growing as a solid defender.
Deandre Ayton's chemistry with Devin Booker was already great, but now with Chris Paul also there, the quality of service he has been getting is through the roof.
Ayton has the potential to be a star in this league, and this year could be the first year we see both Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton in the postseason.
