Houston Rockets: 4 Encouraging signs that prove hot start is sustainable

Trend No. 3: Well-rounded starting 5

When trying to explain the Houston Rockets’ early-season success, you have to start with how impactful and effective their starting 5 has been. Each of Houston’s starters is averaging at least 12 points per game and no one player is averaging more than 19 points per game. It’s a well-balanced starting 5 that is not too lenient on any one player. That can be viewed as a positive when you consider that they’re not too dependent on any one player.

If one is having a bad game, there’s the opportunity for another to life the team. Another way to put it; on any given night, any one of the Rockets’ starting 5 can lead the team to victory. But this could also be the impact of adding two quality veterans to the lineup. I’m not sure we’d see the growth that Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green have made so far this season without Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks taking a lot of the pressure off their shoulders.

The big question is whether the starting 5 can be this productive all throughout the season. Considering the Rockets have one of the lowest-scoring benches in the league, they’re likely going to need sustainability from the starting 5 to keep winning at this pace.