(News4usOnline) – The Rockets got some well-deserved rest over the final stretch of the regular season after clinching the second-best record in the Western Conference with three games left on their schedule.
Houston has been the surprise of the league, increasing its win total from last year by 11 games.
“We are not satisfied at all, but I would say we have done well considering we were bunched up in the pack all year and finished 15-2 to separate ourselves,” said head coach Ime Udoka before their game against the Clippers.
Udoka has reestablished himself as one of the best coaches in the league by bringing his defensive-minded style, which helped lead the Celtics to the 2022 NBA Finals, to Houston.
Adding two hard-nosed veterans to their otherwise extremely young roster, along with Udoka a year and a half ago, is starting to pay massive dividends. Udoka, Fred VanVleet, and Dillon Brooks have completely changed the Rockets’ culture.
“Buy-in has been there from day one. Guys who weren’t known as defenders bought into that style of ball and really improved in recognition and competitiveness. We have some really naturally talented defenders, and you can’t teach certain things, but having the right veterans with edge and toughness has rubbed off on our group,” said Udoka.
They are fourth in defensive rating, inside the top ten in steals, and first in offensive rebounding. If there is a loose ball, Houston will probably secure it.
“Offensive rebounding is something we targeted coming into this year to be number one in, and the combination of that and what we do as far as turnovers, a lot of steals, a lot of live ball turnovers has been a differentiating factor for us,” said Udoka.
VanVleet and Brooks have shown the younger players how to implement Udoka’s plan, and from there, this team’s talent and athleticism have taken over.
“Before I got here, we were among the worst at turning the ball over in the league. You brought in Fred, who has been one of the best assist-to-turnover ratio guys for years, and that improved us. We rely on him a lot, but as we have grown, it is not just him; other guys are taking care of the ball and taking good shots,” said Udoka.
The Rockets have five first-rounders on their roster drafted in 2021 or later, all averaging over 12 points per game this season. The second, third, and fourth-year players have blossomed in year two under new leadership.
Jalen Green (2nd overall in 2021) has improved his shooting percentages across the board while leading the team in scoring with over 21 points a night. Alperen Sengun (16th overall in 2021) was selected to his first All-Star team this season, averaging 19.2 points and 10.4 rebounds.
Jabari Smith Jr. (3rd overall in 2022) and Tari Eason (17th overall in 2022) have carved out consistent, productive minutes in either a starting role or off the bench, whichever is needed from night to night. They play great defensively while scoring in double figures nearly every game.
The biggest leap has come from Amen Thompson (4th overall in 2023). Thompson has seen a spike in every statistical category across the board, and is easily passing the eye test. One steal and fast break jam is all it takes to recognize Thompson’s potential. He is an athletic specimen with the unique ability to affect the game in just about every way imaginable.
At 6’7”, he can run, jump, and cut with the best of them while also possessing a God-gifted feel for the game. Thompson will be a star in this league one day, but for now, he is the scrappy type of player that any team would love to have, doing a little bit of everything on the court at a high level.
This team is going to get after it in the postseason. They are hungry and scrappy, a combination that opponents do not want to face in a seven-game series. Their youth will wear slower teams down, and they have just enough of a veteran presence to remain consistent.
“I think these last ten games or so, we have ramped it up. We have thrown more at the guys and they have handled it well,” said Udoka. “We have to stay crisp and sharp, but we are focused on whoever our first-round opponent is.”
They might still be a year away from truly maturing enough to raise a banner, but Houston has built something special and will be a problem in the West for a long time.
Benjamin Verbrugge is a reporter for News4usonline who studied journalism at CSU Dominguez Hills. “Sports have brought me much joy throughout my life, and I want to give a little back to something that has meant so much to me.” Email Benjamin at benverbrugge8@gmail.com.
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