By: VINCENT MENDOZA / CO-NEWS EDITOR
The Houston Rockets secured a 109-108 victory vs the Eastern Conference top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, improving to 29-14 on the season and maintaining their second-place seeding in the hyper-competitive Western Conference. Just two seasons ago, the Rockets found themselves amongst the other bottom-feeding organizations, finishing 14th in the West, posting a 22-60 record. How did this franchise turn things around so quickly and what does their future hold in store?
More often than not, change starts at the top. From Mark Daigneault of the Oklahoma City Thunder to Kenny Atkinson of the Cleveland Cavaliers, a head coach who knows how to lead, maximize talent and motivate their players can do wonders for an organization.
Former Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka, who led the team to the finals back in 2022, has helped the Rockets tremendously since taking the helm in April 2023. Udoka’s experience with Boston has translated seamlessly onto this roster in respect to their discipline and cohesiveness on both ends of the floor, primarily on defense.
The 2022 Boston Celtics ranked second in defensive rating and first in opponents point per game, holding teams to just 104.5 a night. This season, the Rockets rank third in defensive rating and fourth in opponent points per game, holding teams to just under 108 points per contest. It should also be noted that the Celtics roster contained that season’s Defensive Player of the Year, Marcus Smart, All-Defensive second team forward Robert Williams III and two-way All-Stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Houston’s young core continues to make huge leaps individually, most notably 2021 second overall pick Jalen Green. In roughly 33 minutes per game, Green is averaging 21.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists. Although none of these are career-bests, the uber-athletic guard is averaging career bests in field goal, three-point and free throw percentages, showcasing his increased efficiency from all three levels. The conversations surrounding Green’s “shot-chucking” tendencies and lack of discipline are long gone.
Turkish big Alperen Şengün, who often receives comparisons to Nikola Jokić and Domantas Sabonis, has filled that role perfectly for Houston. Şengün is averaging 19.2 points, a career-high 10.5 rebounds and five assists per game. In spite of the fact that Şengün’s field goal percentage is down compared to last season, he’s made up for it in other facets of the game. On top of averaging a career-high in boards, the 16th overall pick in the 2021 draft is posting a career-low 2.7 fouls per game, allowing himself to be available in crucial parts of games.
Relating back to how good the Rockets’ defense has been, this team is composed of athletic wings who can either finish at the basket, create their own shot in isolation, catch and shoot or possess a combination of all three.
2023 fourth overall pick Amen Thompson has proven to be the best of the bunch, posting 13 points, eight rebounds and two and a half assists a game on 55.4% shooting from the field. Defensively, Thompson totals over a steal and block per night, however, these numbers don’t do Thompson’s productivity justice.
The 22-year-old is known to be one of the premier perimeter lockdown defenders in the association, joining elite company such as his twin brother Ausur, Lu Dort, Dyson Daniels and the Celtics’ backcourt duo of Jrue Holiday and Derrick White.
Other athletic wings, including Tari Eason, Cam Whitmore and Jabari Smith Jr. have also made positive contributions to Houston, with each of them averaging double-digit points and doing the dirty work for the Rockets.
Veterans such as 2019 NBA Champion Fred VanVleet and 2023 All-Defensive second team selection Dillon Brooks have also made enormous impacts on the success of this team. Despite their lack of efficiency from the floor, VanVleet provides much needed playmaking and defense while Brooks is a solid three-and-D wing.
As a collective offensively, the Rockets are slightly ahead of the middle of the pack in offensive rating and points per game, ranking 12th and 13th respectively. However, this team shows discipline on this side of the floor, landing just outside the top five in net rating and fourth quarter net rating. Houston also stands eighth in turnovers per game, giving the ball away 13.6 times a night.
Houston’s core has been available consistently throughout the season, creating cohesion. The five-man lineup consisting of VanVleet, Green, Brooks, Smith Jr. and Şengün ranks third in minutes shared amongst all variations of five-man lineups in the league. Despite Smith Jr. going out with a hand injury a little more than two weeks ago and planning to miss another 5-9 weeks, Thompson has fit into the lineup seamlessly, as Houston has gone 7-3 during the stretch.
Excluding VanVleet and Brooks, Houston’s core is home grown. Due to their sooner-than-expected success, there has been much discussion surrounding whether or not the Rockets should break up their young core in exchange for a star. As Houston explores their options, Whitmore and 2024 third overall pick Reed Sheppard are among the most likely to be moved as a result of lack of opportunity, while the trio of Şengün, Green and Thompson are likely untouchable.
The Houston Rockets have developed a winning formula based on defensive intensity, smart play and collective effort. Their rapid improvement suggests they are developing leaps and bounds ahead of schedule, becoming a formidable team in the Western Conference. Although Houston might not be able to compete with the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in a seven game series, they have the ability to challenge any other squad in the hyper-competitive Western Conference.
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