Houston Rockets Hit a Wall: Shooting Woes, Stagnant Offense, and a Blueprint to Beat Them
Ten days ago, the Houston Rockets were in control-up eight at halftime against their in-state rivals, the San Antonio Spurs. What followed wasn’t just a loss.
It was a revelation. The Spurs didn’t just beat the Rockets; they may have exposed them.
Houston came out firing, dropping 36 points in the first quarter. But from that point on, the offense unraveled.
Just 37 points total in the second half. That’s not a cold streak-that’s a full-on freeze.
And it wasn’t random. It was tactical.
The Spurs’ Defensive Blueprint
San Antonio adjusted their defense mid-game, and the impact was immediate. They dared Amen Thompson to shoot, giving him space and betting he wouldn’t-or couldn’t-make them pay.
They even put Victor Wembanyama on him, letting the 7-foot-4 unicorn roam like a free safety. That freed Wembanyama to disrupt passing lanes, help at the rim, and generally cause chaos.
The Spurs also sagged off Alperen Sengun and turned up the heat on Kevin Durant. The message was clear: beat us from the outside, or don’t beat us at all.
Since then, that strategy has gone viral across the league.
Copy-and-Paste Defense
Houston hasn’t cracked 100 points in back-to-back home games. Boston ran them off the floor using the same approach.
Then came a double-digit loss to a 24-28 Charlotte team. The Rockets are being dared to shoot, and they’re blinking.
The root issue? It’s the same one that haunted them last season-outside shooting. Or rather, the lack of it.
The Rockets hoped Durant’s arrival would fix their spacing problems. And in theory, it should’ve helped.
But spacing only works when defenders have to respect every player on the floor. Right now, they don’t.
Thompson isn’t drawing any attention beyond the arc. He’s made just one three-pointer in his last 11 games.
He’s on pace for a career-high in attempts, but the efficiency just isn’t there. Teams are happy to let him fire away, knowing the odds are in their favor.
That turns the Rockets’ offense into a four-on-five game in the half court.
Help That Hasn’t Helped
Dorian Finney-Smith was brought in to help stretch the floor, but he’s only played 18 games and is shooting a rough 24% from deep since returning from a preseason injury. Tari Eason has been a bright spot, hitting a career-best 49% from three-but he’s only made 60 total threes in 50 games and has missed time with multiple injuries.
Reed Sheppard was expected to be a spark plug from outside. Lately, he’s been more of a flicker-just 31% from three over his last nine games.
Meanwhile, Sengun has cooled off significantly. He’s shooting just 36% from the field since the Spurs game. Thompson’s at 44%, but with no perimeter threat, defenses are packing the paint and daring Houston to beat them from deep.
Déjà Vu from Last Year’s Playoffs
None of this is new. Golden State used a similar strategy to bounce Houston from the playoffs last season.
The Rockets had a chance to address the issue in the offseason. Instead, they doubled down on size, investing in Clint Capela and Steven Adams.
The expectation was that Durant could shoulder the offensive load.
And when the trade deadline came this week, Houston stayed quiet. While other teams added shooting-Tyus Jones (a 40% shooter over the last four seasons), Luke Kennard (44% career from deep), and Jose Alvarado were all moved-the Rockets stood pat.
Signs of Frustration
The tension is starting to show. Sengun was ejected Wednesday after an outburst at an official.
A day later, he and Durant exchanged heated words during another frustrating loss. The Rockets are still fourth in the West, but they’ve gone just 9-8 over their last 17 games and are scoring the second-fewest points per game in the league since that Spurs loss.
They’re also attempting the fewest threes in that span.
Next up? A road trip to Oklahoma City. Not exactly a get-right game.
No Quick Fix
The Rockets’ issues aren’t unsolvable-but they’re not fixable in February, either. The trade deadline has passed, and the roster is what it is. The spacing is tight, the shooting is cold, and the league has figured out how to slow them down.
Houston had its shot to address the problem. Much like its perimeter offense, it missed.