5 Season-dictating narratives to follow after a splashy offseason by the Houston Rockets.
The Houston Rockets may very well be a team on the rise considering the wealth of talent that they have accumulated over the past two seasons. This should be a fun and interesting group of players and we will see how new head coach Ime Udoka handles situations within the locker room, and how he will distribute minutes among so many talented players all while writing his own story of redemption.
And now that the roster has improved, it’s time for the wins to start piling up and it’s time to begin competing for championships. Even though they have had o endure the necessary growing pains it is realistic to expect the Rockets to improve as a lot of their young players gained experience despite another disappointing season.
The Houston Rockets could be ready to take a big step forward this season
With the additions of Udoka and the veteran players they added, they should be better prepared to compete for a playoff spot instead of focusing on rebuilding. This season should be all about building chemistry and figuring out which areas they need to improve moving forward. Now that the Rockets have brought in Udoka, can we expect him to coach this talented team back to respectability?
I expect Udoka to show these young guys how to play the right way and to hold players accountable as he should demand and earn their respect. With Udoka’s defensive acumen, he will make sure his players pick up the intensity on the defensive end. This roster has tons of promise and potential and this is the perfect situation for Udoka to walk into.
Who emerges as the clear-cut leader?
We can expect quite the battle to see who will emerge as the Houston Rockets’ go-to player as they have many viable options who could lead this team. There is Jalen Green who many believe is the face of the franchise but he will have to show and prove in order to earn that title, especially with Jabari Smith Jr. expected to have a breakout season.
Then there is Kevin Porter Jr. whose impact will be much needed as one of the better shooters on the team. The Rockets finished 2nd to last in 3-pointers made, 22nd in 3-pointers attempted and dead last in 3-point percentage.
There is also the addition of Fred Van Vleet who could also emerge as the leader. In order for Green to make another leap in his development he must improve his defense, improve at making plays for others and become more of a consistent scorer. Even though he has had some good scoring outputs, he must be able to score like that game in and game out.
However, Green did appear more comfortable driving into traffic using a variety of moves. Smith Jr. must do a better job at taking the open shot when the opportunity presents itself. It was noticeable how he developed a habit of driving or settling for long 2’s when he could have taken a better shot.
It also didn’t help that Stephen Silas admitted that he never ran any plays for Smith Jr. but now that he has a more established point guard and a coach who has already had success, he should be in a position to have a big season.
The impressive rookies
The Rockets drafted two of the most talked about players in the NBA Summer League as both Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore had spectacular showings. Thompson had 16 points, five assists, four rebounds, four blocks, and three steals during his debut but ended up injuring his ankle and the Rockets immediately shut him down.
Thompson’s injury opened the door for Whitmore as he took full advantage and took home MVP honors. Both of these rookies should be given ample time to develop and both should come off the bench to begin the season. Don’t be surprised if either one of these rookies can earn a spot start here and there as Udoka tinkers with different lineup combinations.
Whitmore fell to the Rockets with the 20th overall selection and they had to be surprised that Whitmore was still on the board. Whitmore was said to have fallen out of the lottery because of injury concerns, but he may have just made teams regret the fact they passed up on him. It remains unknown exactly what the Rockets have in store for Whitmore.
There was speculation that the Rockets could assign Whitmore to the G League but that is highly unlikely now. If he has a good showing in training camp and in the preseason, then Whitmore could make an impact as a rookie and force his way into the lineup.
Two players expected to improve
Two players who have shown great promise going forward have been Alperen Sengun and Tari Eason. Both of them have an opportunity to make indelible impressions this season as they should be given plenty of opportunities to showcase their talent.
One of the most underrated centers in the NBA, Sengun is probably the player with the most upside on the roster. Many have compared Sengun to 2-time MVP Nikola Jokic and he has also been compared to Domantas Sabonis. He will be a player to keep an eye on as he is in line to have a breakout season. He is an unselfish player with great court vision which is where the Jokic comparisons come from.
Sengun’s passing skills make up for his lack of shooting but he should improve in that area in due time. At times last season, he didn’t appear to be comfortable taking that midrange jump shot as it appeared that he was still adjusting to the speed and quickness of the NBA. Eason was impressive during the two games he played in the NBA Summer League as he averaged 23 points, 9.5 rebounds, and three blocks.
It appears that he has putting in some serious work in the gym since the season ended and his game looks like it really has improved although it was only a Summer League game. He finished well around the basket and his handles appeared to be much more fluid. Coaches rave about his defensive potential as well.
Eason has the length and natural basketball instincts that can’t be taught and has the potential to become one of the better perimeter defenders in the league. He is capable of playing both forward positions and the Rockets must find a defined role for him because he is too talented not to be on the floor.
Fred VanVleet’s impact
Many have questioned the acquisition of Fred VanVleet this summer and how he will fit in with the team. Last season, during his time in Toronto, VanVleet was highly depended on to carry the scoring load due to the Raptors’ lack of scoring options as he was forced to take a lot of bad shots which was uncharacteristic of him.
Now, with options like Smith Jr. and Green on the floor, VanVleet can focus more on taking better shots as he should be able to get better looks with those scoring threats. As a versatile combo guard, VanVleet brings leadership, experience, and professionalism to a team that is sorely lacking.
VanVleet may be considered to be undersized but he plays good defense, makes plays for others, and can shoot it effectively from behind the arc. Having VanVleet running the offense will give Green an opportunity to play off the ball as that should open up the floor for everyone to get better looks.
The addition of Dillon Brooks
There were mixed responses among Rockets fans when it came to the signing of Dillon Brooks. Some felt like the front office overpaid for a player who is just not worth the headache due to his antics last season. But some fans actually like and agree with the Rockets signing the All-NBA 2nd Defensive Teamer as they believe that he will bring that much-needed bulldog mentality, hustle, and energy it takes to be a good defensive team in this league.
The Rockets’ defense as a collective a season ago could only be described as unenergetic, lackadaisical, and downright lazy to say the least as they allowed the 3rd most points, allowed the most made 3-pointers, and allowed the 3rd highest 3-point percentage in the NBA. Bringing in a player like Brooks is going to help Udoka establish a culture of physicality and toughness.
Once Brooks puts on a Rockets uniform and takes the floor, the fans should warm up to him once they see the impact he will have. That element of toughness should rub off on the younger players as they will be able to see what it takes to be successful on defense in this league.
Overall, the Brooks signing just makes sense as he brings a veteran presence to a locker room full of young players and that will be important as the Rockets build their defensive identity.