The Houston Rockets sit at the second seed in the Western Conference, which is an insane feat for them. The young team has been on the rise and there’s no sight of slowing down any time soon.
After another statement win in a close contest versus the Memphis Grizzlies, Houston has become a legit contender in the association.
Houston has every component you need for a contending unit. They have scoring, defense and shooting. Not to mention, they have great coaching as well.
The Surge
Jalen Green has been phenomenal in the second half of this season. The Rockets are 7-0 when he scores 30+ points, which shows they need him to be at his best. Green struggles with efficiency at times, but as of late, he’s been more consistent.
Green had a scorching 42 points against the Grizzlies and also made five three-pointers. His 13-18 shooting and 5-6 from three point land is something that jumped off the page for Houston.
Amen Thompson has dominated in the starting five, somewhere he should permanently remain. He’s averaging 17.2 points, 11 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and 1.7 steals as a starter.
Thompson posted 19 points, 13 rebounds, 5 (!) blocks and 2 steals against Memphis. One day, he will be in the conversation for best defender in the NBA.
Alperen Sengun has been a beast this year as well. He’s posting 19.3 points, 10.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists per contest. Sengun has showed he’s one of the most promising bigs in the league, and the Rockets have heavily benefited from him.
The Balance
Players like Dillon Brooks, Fred VanVleet, Steven Adams and Cam Whitmore have been solid contributors to Houston’s success as well.
These guys provide a balance of defense and scoring attack. Opposing teams struggle against the Rockets due to their depth ability.
Tari Eason has been out with injury, but he is slated to return soon. Eason is a big reason for Houston’s tenacious defense, and his return will make them even better.
The Houston Rockets are one of the scariest teams in the NBA right now. They will continue to ascend and they are ready for takeoff.
