The Rockets spent the offseason looking like a team that hoped internal growth would patch over some obvious holes. A 52-win season had not been enough to convince everyone they were a real threat, especially after an offense that leaned too heavily on Kevin Durant and a playoff exit against a Lakers team missing Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. Houston mostly stood still, with Marcus Smart the biggest addition, and the bet was that Fred VanVleet’s return from a torn ACL, Smart’s playmaking, and improvement from the young core would be enough.
A few weeks into the season, that view looks a lot less sturdy.
Houston is sitting atop the West at 7-1, owns the second-best offensive rating in the league and also has a top-10 defense. The Rockets have already collected wins over the Spurs, Mavericks and the short-handed Thunder, yet they still haven’t become the loudest conversation in the league. That’s starting to feel out of step with what they’ve put on the floor.
What’s changed most is the way the offense is being built. Durant was supposed to carry a huge share of the load again, and VanVleet’s return was expected to make things smoother, but the early-season engine has been Alperen Şengün.
The 24-year-old center, now in his sixth NBA season, has been outstanding even while missing two games with a back injury. He leads Houston in points at 23.3 per game, along with 15.7 field goal attempts and 9.0 makes.
He’s also averaging a career-best 7.8 assists.
Part of the scoring surge has come from a scorching start from three, where Şengün is hitting 53.8% of his attempts. He only takes two a game, though, and the bigger story is how much damage he’s doing inside while also creating for others. He’s already a two-time All-Star, but this is different: it’s production that lifts the whole offense, not just his own box score.
That was on display Monday night in Houston’s win over the Celtics. Şengün finished with 26 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds while the Rockets ran much of the offense through him. He also made his presence felt defensively, coming away with four combined blocks and steals against a Boston team that ranks in the top half of the league in turnovers per game.
The biggest ripple effect is what that means for Durant. He’s still a lethal scorer, but he’s averaging the fewest shots per game of his career so far and took only six field goal attempts in yesterday’s comfortable win. Houston still needs Durant to be Durant when the stakes rise, but he no longer has to function as the team’s nightly rescue act.
The rest of the roster is fitting around those two much better than expected. VanVleet has been exactly the stabilizer Houston wanted.
Amen Thompson continues to wreak havoc defensively and already saved one Rockets win with a huge block on Victor Wembanyama. Jabari Smith Jr. has taken the step forward many were waiting for, knocking down more than three threes per game while defending at a high level.
Smart has already looked like a smart value signing. Even with Reed Sheppard, the team’s best non-Durant shooter, off to a cold start from deep, the offense has kept rolling.
On the other end, everyone seems committed to making life miserable.
There’s still a long way to go, and early shooting numbers can always cool off. But Houston’s blend of physical defense, shot-making and a center who can run the offense gives it a profile that should travel.
And the West has opened up around them. The Thunder have already lost three starters to long-term injuries.
The Timberwolves will be without Anthony Edwards for months. The Nuggets are hovering around .500.
The Grizzlies and Trail Blazers have one loss apiece, but neither is expected to be in the long-term title mix.
The Spurs are still there as one of the league’s most talented teams, but the path for Houston is clear enough right now. If the health holds, the Rockets have the talent and structure to keep stacking wins and settle in near the top of the West.
They’ve earned a lot more attention than they were getting a week ago.
In Other News...
Alperen Sengun Is Giving Rockets Fans A New Offensive Debate
The Rockets offense has taken a real step forward this season, and a big part of that leap has come from an unusual source. Alperen Sengun has evolved into one of the teams central playmakers from the middle of the floor, giving Houston a different kind of engine than the one it expected when it built around Fred VanVleet as the lead guard. The result has been one of the leagues most efficient attacks, with Senguns passing opening up the floor and VanVleet still handling the steady, low-mistake work that keeps everything moving.
What makes the conversation interesting now is how the roles are starting to blur. Sengun has piled up big assist nights, including a 10-assist game against the Celtics, and he has been turning those flashes into something more consistent. VanVleet remains important because of the way he manages possessions and limits turnovers, but Houstons offense is increasingly asking a different question: when the ball is in the frontcourt, who is really setting the table? [Read more 🡒]
Jabari Smith Jr Just Opened A Bigger Option For The Rockets
Jabari Smith Jr. has been giving the Rockets more than floor spacing lately, and the latest example came in a matchup with Boston. With Houston short on its usual backup centers, Smith absorbed a heavier defensive load and spent much of the night handling the kind of physical work that can change how a team builds its rotation.
For a Rockets team that already values his shooting and length, the added versatility matters. Smiths ability to hold up against bigger opponents while still contributing on the glass gives Houston a different look when the frontcourt gets thin, and it opens the door to lineups that can stay competitive without sacrificing size, spacing or effort. [Read more 🡒]
Kevin Durants Quiet Night Leaves Rockets With A New Balancing Act
Kevin Durants first game in a Rockets uniform against the Celtics turned into a low-volume night by his standards, even in a comfortable 109-93 win. The veteran forward played in his 1,209th NBA game and finished with 12 points on 5 of 6 shooting, a line that reflected efficiency more than the kind of heavy usage Houston has usually associated with him.
Ime Udoka said he spoke with Durant about finding the right balance between staying involved in the offense and being more aggressive in looking for his own shot. It is the sort of adjustment the Rockets will keep monitoring as they try to blend Durants scoring instincts with a team structure that has to keep everyone engaged. [Read more 🡒]