The Houston Rockets are 0-2 to begin the 15-16 season, losing to both the Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors by 20 points.

James Harden finished second in MVP voting last season and the Rockets advanced to the Western Conference Finals.

With the addition of Ty Lawson, the Rockets have been expected to be one of the Western Conference's top contenders.

“No more cooling around," said Harden. "We’re too cool, walking around cool. Myself, as a leader. I just have to pick up my mojo a little bit.”

"Sometimes it takes a loss," said Dwight Howard. "Sometimes it takes you getting beat up to get back up and be better."

Terrence Jones and Donatas Motiejunas are bypassing contract extensions with the Houston Rockets before the Nov. 2nd deadline.

Neither side has had much movement in extension talks.

Both Jones and Motiejunas will be restricted free agents, while the Rockets will be able to retain salary cap room.

Jones and Motiejunas both figure to be highly coveted players in free agency.

Rahat Huq (@RedNinetyFour) of Rockets blog Red94.net joins Nate Duncan (@NateDuncanNBA) to preview the Houston Rockets season.  

Topics include: Whether James Harden can maintain and even build on his MVP runner-up season; who starts at power forward this season and whether that position projects as a strength or weakness; how much the Rockets 56 wins a year ago predicts for this year; potential playoffs matchups; the future of Dwight Howard; and a season prediction for the Rockets this year.

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Click here for other team previews from the Dunc'd On Basketball Podcast.

The Oklahoma City Thunder led the NBA in efficiency differential during the preseason with a mark of +12.5.

During the 14-15 preseason, the Golden State Warriors had the league's best mark with +11.0, which became a first indicator of their jump as title contenders.

Here's the full rankings from the 15-16 preseason:

1. Thunder: 12.5
2. Celtics: 11.6
3. Grizzlies: 11.5
4. Wizards: 10.4
5. Hornets: 10.0
6. Pistons: 7.1
7. Raptors: 5.6
8. Pacers: 4.7
9. Knicks: 4.0
10. Suns: 3.9
11. Nuggets: 3.5
12. Kings: 3.3
13. Magic: 2.8
14. Blazers: 1.8
15. Jazz: 0.4
16. Heat: 0.0
17. Hawks: -0.7
18. Rockets: -0.7
19. Nets: -1.0
20. Warriors: -1.3
21. Spurs: -1.9
22. Lakers: -2.1
23. Bucks: -3.4
24. Bulls: -3.6
25. Pelicans: -3.6
26. Clippers: -4.2
27. Cavaliers: -6.5
28. 76ers: -8.6
29. Mavericks: -10.7
30. Wolves: -11.0

The Houston Rockets have waived Chris Walker, Jeremy Tyler, Will Cummings and Denzel Livingston.

Houston's roster now stands at 16.

If NBA general managers could collectively decide upon a starting five, it would begin with LeBron James at small forward.

James is the pick at small forward by 89.3 percent of GMs, ahead of Kevin Durant at 8.9 percent and Kawhi Leonard at 1.8 percent.

James also received 7.1 percent of the vote at power forward, but it was Anthony Davis with the most at 82.1 percent. Blake Griffin also received 7.1 percent of the vote.

At shooting guard, James Harden was the choice of 79.3 percent of GMs, ahead of Klay Thompson with 10.3 percent.

Marc Gasol was voted best center in the NBA with 65.5 percent, ahead of DeMarcus Cousins at 13.8 percent.

Finally, Stephen Curry received 55.2 percent of the vote for the best point guard, ahead of Chris Paul at 24.1 percent and Russell Westbrook at 17.2 percent.

Curry, Harden, James, Davis and Gasol were also First Team All-NBA selections last season.

The Houston Rockets have claimed Arlasan Kazemi off waivers.

Kazemi was waived by the Atlanta Hawks.

Dwight Howard said he played through a torn MCL and meniscus during the Western Conference Finals.

Team doctors said Howard did not need offseason surgery because the tears weren't that severe.

Howard hurt his left knee in the first quarter of Game 1 of that series when his then-teammate Josh Smith crashed into his knee. 

Howard missed 41 games for the Houston Rockets during the 14-15 season.

The Houston Rockets hope to bring Alessandro Gentile to the NBA for the 16-17 season.

The Rockets own the draft rights to Gentile, who was the 53rd overall pick of the 2014 NBA Draft.

Gentile has played for Milano since 2011 and was Serie A Finals MVP in 2014.

The Houston Rockets are title contenders again this season and Ty Lawson will give the team another element, but everything begins with Dwight Howard and James Harden.

“We want to grow,” said Howard. “James and myself want to take this team to a great level and I think that together we can lead this team in the right direction, we can be unstoppable. I truly believe that. All of us just have a great feeling about what we can accomplish. That’s the only thing that’s been on our mind. Man, we believe. The first step in trying to be a champion is really believing. This unit, we really believe we have a chance.”

Howard played in the 2009 NBA Finals with the Orlando Magic.

Howard can become a free agent next summer.

“I’m just looking forward to having an unbelievable season,” he said. “As the years go by, you don’t take anything for granted. I remember coming into the league [at age 18], and now I’m 30. It’s my 12th season and now I’m seeing guys who are 20 and 21 and they are just coming in.”