With shooting woes and aging veterans clouding the future, Houston’s rebuild hinges on whether Alperen Şengün and Amen Thompson can evolve beyond their current athletic ceilings.
Despite what some fans may tell you, each NBA team has a unique identity and playstyle. The league isn’t just full of 30 teams that chuck up threes every night to see who can make the most.
In fact, the Houston Rockets went completely against that false narrative. They took the third fewest attempts from behind the arc as a team, only putting up 31.6 threes per game, according to TeamRankings.
This was largely due to the roster construction, so everyone should be happy that there weren’t many more long balls attempted. Nobody likes a brick fest from poor shooters, so thankfully they finished right around league average at 36-percent.
Offensive rebounding was the great equalizer, but unless they draft a younger Steven Adams, how is that going to work moving forward? Their season fell apart when the Kiwi big man went down.
You can’t expect him to be an 82 game player, and we’re not even sure how he’ll look after recovering from surgery. The highest number of games he’s played in the last four seasons is only 58, including missing the entire 2024 season.
I don’t think it’s a good sign for the team’s future if a 32 year old part-time starter is that integral to success. Throw in a 37 year old Kevin Durant leading the team in scoring, and I’m starting to wonder what role the young guys have.
Jabari Smith Jr. is a 3&D forward who’s only league average from deep, despite attempting the second most threes on the team. I’m fine with him being a high level role player, he’ll just have to find consistency.
Like OG Anunoby for the New York Knicks, Jabari could potentially be a wing that fits anywhere. Somewhat of a Swiss Army knife.
Sticking to that same comparison, I could see Tari Eason being a Mikal Bridges type in a perfect world. Not a bad outcome if you can draft two versatile wings.
I see Alperen Şengün and Amen Thompson as the two with the greatest potential, but that’s only if they unlock their shooting abilities. Right now they seem to have plateaued to an extent. I don’t know how the team continues to improve if it’s not spearheaded by them.
Reed Sheppard has the opportunity to be in the league for a long time, and as the Rockets best shooter, he’s an incredibly valuable piece to the team. I just don’t know what his ceiling is as a player.
There’s not many 6’2” guys starting, as smaller guards have been picked on relentlessly and phased out of the league. If they’re not a star, they’re probably not a starter.
There’s Darius Garland, Trae Young, Tyrese Maxey, Donovan Mitchell, and Jalen Brunson as All-Stars. With Kyrie Irving and FVV returning from ACL injuries, Immanuel Quickley is the only other starting guard of Reed’s size.
Given Sheppard’s lack of consistent minutes, it’s hard to imagine him having the role to become a star. This leaves the Rockets in a tricky place.
What identity does this team have outside of crashing the offensive glass? What will they do when Kevin Durant can’t lead the offense?
While I truly do like all of the young core individually, I don’t necessarily know where they’re headed in the distant future. I’m sorry to take shots, but it might look a little like the Chicago Bulls of recent years.
Star players who don’t fit all that well together, and some role players with unfulfilled potential. Maybe I’m being pessimistic, but I really think some changes need to be made before the team is stuck in mediocrity.
