With the World Cup over two weeks ago, DNA of Sports is starting its traditional presentation, franchise by franchise, of the upcoming NBA season. Like every year, this takes the form of a countdown, from the teams expected at the bottom of the ranking to our favorite for the champion title. Today, place for Rocketswhich are taking a new turn in their reconstruction.
As evidenced by the arrival on their bench ofIme Udoka replacing Stephen Silas who was clearly not comfortable with the role of “head coach” of a young group that needed a framework and structure.
A year after his controversial departure from the Celtics, which he led to the Finals, the technician therefore brings with him the hope of better days in Texas, because the franchise did not do better than 14th place in the West since the 2019/20 financial year, James Harden – Russell Westbrook era…
Under the leadership of its experienced recruits Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks or Jeff Green And Jock Landaleall coming to add millions to young people Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith, Amen Thompson, Cam Whitmore or Tari Eason, Houston will seek to become competitive again and demonstrate that its summer work makes sense. Hoping, too, that the soap opera Kevin Porter Jr. don’t disrupt team news for too long.
SUMMER MOVEMENTS
Arrivals: Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, Amen Thompson, Cam Whitmore, Jeff Green, Jock Landale, Aaron Holiday
Departures: Kenyon Martin Jr, Usman Garuba, Josh Christopher, Frank Kaminsky, TyTy Washington Jr, Kevin Porter (?)
PLAYER TO WATCH: JALEN GREEN
We could have cited Alperen Sengun or even Jabari Smith Jr. but it is Jalen Green who is most likely to take the Rockets to a milestone this season. On the condition, obviously, that he assumes and flourishes in his role as attack leader of the Texans, by gaining consistency and eliminating waste from his game as much as possible.
While he obviously has flaws, the second pick of the 2021 Draft demonstrated in just two exercises that he had the potential to become one of the future dominant attackers in the league.
As he is still only 21 years old and Houston remains in the reconstruction phase, we will remain patient with him even if, for his third campaign in the NBA, we will however expect him to show a little more of maturity. Especially in an environment reinforced by the presence of veterans and a coach like Ime Udoka.
Average age: 25.6 years
Payroll: $146 million (25th)
THE IDEAL SCENARIO
Very quickly, Ime Udoka’s speech bore fruit with the Texan group and the touch of the former Boston brain allowed Jalen Green to explode statistically and in his attitude. More invested and mature, he benefits greatly from the presence of Fred VanVleet in “big brother” mode at his side to establish himself as Houston’s offensive leader, incidentally rid of the problematic Kevin Porter Jr. in the fall.
Another satisfactory point of the Rockets’ campaign: the development of Alperen Sengun, who confirms his nickname of “mini-Jokic” by becoming the anchor of his team’s attack, which he makes much more fluid and dangerous with his reads and passing quality.
To the delight of Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks and Jabari Smith Jr, who have (and convert) many open shots, in addition to setting the tone defensively with the help of Tari Eason or Jae’Sean Tate, without forgetting that of rookies Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore, already valuable coming off the bench.
Much more balanced, Houston moves away quite easily from the depths of the Western Conference for the first time in four years and, like the Jazz last season, the Texan players become a scratch capable of beating anyone in a match, despite still certain collective limits. Enough to dream of the playoffs while fighting for a place in the “playin zone” until mid-April…
THE WORST SCENARIO
If Ime Udoka may try to reproduce what made him strong with the Celtics, the recipe does not work with the Rockets and the playoff hopes of the Texan franchise evaporate quite quickly.
It’s because you don’t get rid of bad habits so easily and, despite the (temporary) sidelining of Kevin Porter Jr, Jalen Green remains as explosive as he is messy. Alongside him, Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks shoot a lot, without much efficiency, and this outside trio completely monopolizes the Rockets’ game.
While the three exteriors engage in a brick-and-mortar contest night after evening, Alperen Sengun rarely sees the ball inside, while Jabari Smith Jr. has to make do with crumbs.
In this collective slump where the hierarchy is far from being established, it is obviously difficult for rookies Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore to do well off the bench. And the gap between veterans and young people is growing rapidly, with management having completely missed its bet to balance its workforce.
Suffice to say that this 2023/24 season is (once again) quickly turning into a fiasco for Houston while, to make matters worse, the Kevin Porter Jr. soap opera pollutes the team’s news for (too) many weeks. It thus remains far from the playoffs (and even the play-in) but, what is most worrying is that we still do not know what direction it is taking, three years after the departure of James Harden…
| WESTERN CONFERENCE | ||||
| 15 – Blazers | 14 – Spurs | 13 – Rockets | 12 – … | 11 – … |
| 10 – … | 9 – … | 8 – … | 7 – … | 6 – … |
| 5 – … | 4 – … | 3 – … | 2 – … | 1 – … |
| EAST CONFERENCE | ||||
| 15 – Hornets | 14 – Pistons | 13 – Wizards | 12 – Magic | 11 – Raptors |
| 10 – … | 9 – … | 8 – … | 7 – … | 6 – … |
| 5 – … | 4 – … | 3 – … | 2 – … | 1 – … |
