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We are less than one week away from the start of the 2024-25 NBA Season! To continue our preseason preview series, we will be diving into the Houston Rockets, a team on the rise after a very encouraging 2023-24 season. Let’s not waste any more time and jump right into it!
The Rockets entered last summer with three straight seasons winning 22 or fewer games. Stark changes were made, signing veteran guards Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks for roughly $215 million combined. They also fired head coach Stephen Silas, who was a disaster, and hired Ime Udoka, who was excellent in his one season with Boston before running into controversy. Houston improved by 19 wins, finishing a dead-even 41-41 and just missing out on the play-in despite a late-season push. It was a very strong step in the right direction toward success, given the previous circumstances.
The Rockets had a pretty quiet offseason after a loud summer in 2023. A big move didn’t come, but they still have picks plus plenty of tradable contracts to make noise next February if the right deal is available. They also drafted Reed Sheppard, a perfect fit for what this roster needed skillset-wise.
Fred VanVleet, G – VanVleet is one of the NBA’s best floor generals and Houston’s offense was markedly better with him on the floor than when he’s not. He’s also a bulldog defensively who’s one of the better shot-blockers the league has seen for a player who’s barely six feet tall.
Jalen Green, G – It was a rocky 2023-24 season for Jalen Green, who was expected to take a leap. He finished the season strong, so perhaps he continues to build on that momentum as one of the offensive’s primary options again in 2024-25.
Dillon Brooks, G/F – Dillon Brooks helped instill a culture that made Houston a top-10 defense last year. He’s still Dillon Brooks, though, so the shot selection is still pretty spotty.
Jabari Smith Jr., F – Smith, a former No. 3 overall pick, was far more efficient in his second season with Houston, averaging 13.7 points and 8.1 rebounds on 45.4 percent shooting and 36.3 percent from 3-point range. Can he take another leap?
Alperen Sengun, C – Good things will happen if you run an offense through Sengun! Who would’ve thought? He finished third in Most Improved Player voting with a near-six percent uptick in usage, posting 21.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists.
Reed Sheppard, G – Sheppard might be my favorite to win the Rookie of the Year award. He was historically efficient from wherever he shot the ball at Kentucky, as well as being one of the most productive defensive playmakers in America. His size is a slight concern, but his playmaking and shooting capabilities are exactly what Houston needed.
Amen Thompson, G/F – Thompson battled injuries last season but he looked rock solid in every facet outside of his 3-point shooting, which was the book on him entering the NBA.
Steven Adams, C – Adams was traded to Houston midseason last year; he’s a bone-crushing screensetter and a great rebounder. So there’s a world where he makes a huge difference for Houston’s guards, even if the spacing is compromised.
Tari Eason, F – He’s baaaaaaaaaaaack! (I really hope Eason stays healthy!).
If Smith, Thompson, Whitmore and/or Jalen Green can take another step in the right direction this year, Houston’s path to success becomes more feasible. You will have to take some of the bad with the good, but each player still has plenty of room to grow. This team won’t have championship expectations this year, but they have postseason expectations. It’s a loaded conference, so any growth they can get from the youngins outside of Sengun will be required.
I have the Rockets finishing as the No. 9 seed in the West, where it should finish around 42-44 wins.
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