HOUSTON (SportsRadio 610) -- The first look at the Rockets at full strength finally happens just hours before the new year.
The Rockets (0-2) missed their season-opener, scheduled last week at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder but postponed because of COVID-19 concerns, then dropped two game on the road to the Portland Trail Blazers and Denver Nuggets, both expected to be playoff teams in the Western Conference this season.
Houston was without four key rotation players in John Wall, Eric Gordon, DeMarcus Cousins and Ben McLemore.
Wall, Gordon and Cousins are back, while McLemore is still working his way through the COVID-19 protocol.
Wall and Cousins, college teammates at Kentucky a decade ago who are both returning from seasons lost to injuries, expressed frustration with having the rug pulled from under them last week.
Related
Cousins, however, sees an opportunity in Houston.
Most of the public focus on the Rockets is on James Harden trade speculation, and the fact they became the league's COVID-19 posterchild as the only team to force a game's postponement.
But on the court?
"I think we're absolutely a threat," Cousins said Wednesday. "I believe other teams know that. Obviously, it's a narrative around our team right now and that's gaining all of the attention, which is fine. But as far as us playing the game of basketball and competing on the floor, I think we can compete with anybody in the West.
"So we'll continue to fly under the radar and show up when need be."