We have as good a chance as anybody: Chandler Parsons

What are the Rockets’ chances of going all the way in NBA this time around?
Playing the No. 1 seed, not many people are going to give us a chance to win that series, let alone the championship. But we’re young, focused and have the best offense in the NBA. As long as we put our focus on the defensive end and rebounds, we have as good a chance as anybody.

What is it that drives you to play extremely well in pressure situations?
I want to be an efficient player. I don’t want to be someone who slows down our offense or the guy that takes bad shots and forces the issue. I like to take what the defense gives me and do whatever is best for my team to win. Me being a playmaker, than a guy who’s going to go out there and just try and score points, helps our team a lot more.

Can you throw some light on your journey with the Houston Rockets so far?
Not a lot of people thought we were going to be this good early on. We’re bunch of guys who enjoy playing with each other. As far as people’s expectations are concerned, we have surpassed them. We have way higher expectations from ourselves and from our team than most of the media do.

You are known to be a skilled outside shooter but not celebrated as a one-on-one offensive threat. How has your game evolved in the last two years and what are the areas that you need to work on?
I need to continue to get stronger so I can take smaller guys into the post. At 6’10”, I’m taller than most of the guys I’m going to play. If I develop a post-game, it will definitely help our team. I continue to work on my ball handling and shooting. If I tighten up in both aspects, it will open up my game and allow me to charge to the basket more and finish it.

How important is it to have a leader like Kevin McHale in the locker room during the playoffs?
It’s been unbelievable playing for him. You have a certain level of respect for coach McHale just because he’s been through it before and he understands what we’re going through.

He’s top-50 player of all time in the NBA with many championships. So, it’s awesome having a guy like that who’s a resource for any question or concern you have. I’ve had a blast playing with him – he’s more of a friend than a coach to me.

We’ve heard you have plenty of nicknames, Chandler Bing being your favourite...
I guess they came up with Chandler Bing just because of the tip dunks that I had last year and it’s a character from the show Friends. They just kind of made that joke Chandler Bing, Chandler Bing and I guess it kind of stuck but I don’t mind it.