The Houston Rockets are eyeing a potential winning streak with an upcoming back-to-back matchup against the LA Clippers. This opportunity comes at a critical juncture, especially since the team has lost two of its last three games. Their recent performance included a narrow victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder, ending with a score of 112-106. However, this win was against a team dealing with significant injuries.
Prior to this win, the Rockets experienced tough losses against the Boston Celtics and the Charlotte Hornets, losing by an average of 15.5 points. As the NBA trade deadline approached, Houston remained inactive, one of only three teams not making any trades. Despite a year characterized by considerable player movement, the Rockets did not bolster their roster, particularly at the critical point guard position. Instead, they will now explore the buyout market to address this need before the playoffs.
Recent Performance and Rankings
The Rockets’ dip in performance has been reflected in The Athletic’s latest power rankings, curated by Law Murray. After being ranked fifth the previous week, Houston has now fallen to seventh place, just ahead of the Cleveland Cavaliers and behind the Denver Nuggets in Tier 2 of five categories. Murray noted that the Rockets demonstrated inconsistency, winning some close contests while struggling at home against Eastern Conference teams.
Coaching Insights
Head coach Ime Udoka has voiced concerns about Alperen Şengün’s defense, highlighting a recurring issue throughout his tenure. With Fred VanVleet sidelined due to an ACL injury, and Steven Adams out for the season with an ankle injury, the Rockets have had to manage the point guard position by committee. This approach has led to significant turnovers, averaging 15.3 per game.
Key players like Durant, Şengün, and Amen Thompson have been forced to adapt by taking on responsibilities outside of their usual roles. Murray, writing about the teams and their new players after the busy trade deadline, pointed out that Houston’s lack of new acquisitions left Durant as the only significant veteran to focus on. Durant, at 37, continues to show remarkable performance with averages of 25.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.4 assists, maintaining impressive shooting splits of 51% from the field, 40% from three-point range, and 88% from the free-throw line.
- Recent Games: Lost two of last three; beat Thunder (112-106)
- Prior Losses: Average margin of defeat: 15.5 points
- Active Players: Fred VanVleet (injured), Steven Adams (season-ending injury), Dorian Finney-Smith (recovering)
As the team prepares for their next challenge, it remains to be seen how they will adjust and improve their standings in a competitive league.
