2023-24 NBA Season Preview: Houston Rockets
Training camp for the 2023-24 NBA season is officially here! Up until opening night on Oct. 24, we will be previewing all 30 NBA teams! Today, we will be previewing the Houston Rockets, who made a massive personnel and support staff overhaul this offseason!
What happened last year?
The Houston Rockets were tied with the San Antonio Spurs with the worst record in the West at 22-60. They needed more structure and a change in support staff, neither of which they had. Plus, there was an initial struggle from Houston’s young core in Jabari Smith and Jalen Green while Alperen Sengun’s role was inconsistent offensively. Collectively, this group was a disaster a year ago.
Offseason recap:
The Rockets made serious wholesale changes this offseason. fired Stephen Silas and hired former Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka, a no-no-sense coach to set a culture. They also signed star point guard Fred VanVleet on a three-year, $133 million deal in addition to Dillon Brooks signing a four-year, $86 million deal on the opening day of free agency. They also secured two highly-touted prospects in the top 20 of 2023 NBA Draft: Amen Thompson, an athletic specimen, and Cam Whitmore, one of the top scorers as a freshman last year at Villanova.
Projected Starting Five?
Fred VanVleet, G — Houston needed additional ballhandling and shot creation—and VanVleet can organize just that. He averaged 19.3 points and 7.2 assists on 54.0 percent true shooting last season. He’s the quintessential Morey-ball (3s + layups) player.
Jalen Green, G — Green struggled to generate a reasonable flow within Houston’s lowly offense last season and saw a slight drop in efficiency, averaging 22.1 points on 41.6/33.8/78.6 shooting splits, in addition to 3.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists. Expect him to be one of the biggest beneficiaries of playing alongside a true lead guard in VanVleet. His athleticism pops off the screen.
Dillon Brooks, G/F — Brooks is an all-worldly defender who will instantly uplift a squad that was one of the worst defenses in the NBA. Brooks is a shot-chucker who shot just 32.6 percent from distance last season and 34.2 percent for his career, but what he adds on the other end instantly makes him a great fit in Houston. He and VanVleet are the perfect Udoka culture-setters.
Jabari Smith Jr., F — There was an adjustment period for Smith, who tallied 12.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 0.9 blocks on 40.8 percent shooting and 30.7 percent from deep. Over his final 17 games, however, Smith averaged 16.4 points and 8.2 rebounds on 46.5/35.6/77.8 shooting splits and could carry that momentum with a more structurally sound roster around him. He’ll fit very well into Udoka’s switch-heavy defense.
Alperen Sengun, C — I’m interested to see how Sengun fits into Udoka’s offensive and defensive game plans. Sengun, one of the craftiest post players and one of the better big-playmakers leaguewide, averaged 14.8 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists last season.
Notable Reserves:
Tari Eason, F — Eason is a relentless, high-energy rebounder and a fierce defender who can defend multiple positions. I’m very excited to see if he can take a second-year leap after averaging 9.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.2 steals as a rookie. His motor is off the charts.
Cam Whitmore, G/F — Whitemore, who fell to No. 20 (!!!!) in the draft after being a presumptive top-5 prospect, dominated in Summer League and enters his rookie season with a huge chip on his shoulder. He’s not a willing playmaker (yet), but he’s a dynamic, freakishly athletic offensive presence.
Amen Thompson, G — I raved about Green and Whitmore’s athleticism, but Thompson might be the most athletic player on the court regardless of who’s sharing the floor with him. He’s a gazelle. His outside shot is a question, but Thompson’s absurd vision, playmaking, defensive instincts and ability to slash/bend defenses offer a reasonable floor and high ceiling for him as a rookie.
Biggest X-Factor? Jalen Green
Green didn’t take a step back with his production last year, but he garnered a greater ballhandling and creation burden in an offense that had zero flow last season. With a more organized structure, I think the biggest key this season will be taking pressure off Green, both offensively and defensively.
Season projection?
I think Houston will go 35-48 as the No. 12 seed in the West.
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