The Houston Rockets are no strangers to reinvention. For longtime fans, this isn’t the first time the franchise has pivoted from one identity to another in pursuit of a better future. And right now, we’re watching that evolution unfold again-only this time, the shift is happening in real-time, and it’s centered around a player who wasn’t supposed to be the centerpiece.
Let’s rewind for a second.
Back in the early 2000s, the Rockets were in flux. After the Olajuwon-Barkley-Pippen era faded out, the team found a glimmer of hope in Steve Francis-a dynamic guard who landed in Houston after famously refusing to play in Vancouver. Paired with Cuttino Mobley, the Rockets looked poised to build around one of the most electric backcourts in the league.
Then came the 2002 NBA Draft.
Houston wasn’t expected to win the lottery that year. They had the ninth-best odds, but the ping pong balls bounced their way, and they landed the No. 1 pick.
That pick turned into Yao Ming, and just like that, the franchise’s trajectory shifted. Francis and Yao never quite meshed, so the Rockets made another bold move, trading Francis and Mobley for Tracy McGrady.
Injuries ultimately derailed that era, but the vision was clear: the Rockets were willing to pivot when the opportunity called for it.
Fast forward to the present day, and history is repeating itself-just with different names.
The Rockets’ recent rebuild began with a clear direction: speed, athleticism, and explosive transition play. Jalen Green was the first piece, a high-flying scorer with elite quickness. When the team added Amen Thompson-arguably one of the most athletic prospects the league has seen-it looked like Houston was going all-in on a run-and-gun identity.
Then came Alperen Sengun.
Drafted via a savvy trade on draft night, Sengun wasn’t the flashy, above-the-rim athlete the Rockets had been collecting. But what he brought to the table-elite footwork, vision, and a crafty half-court game-was too good to ignore.
As his game blossomed, so did the Rockets’ new vision. The offense slowed down, the pace dipped, and Houston began leaning into a more methodical, half-court system built around Sengun’s strengths.
And here’s the thing: it’s working.
The Rockets currently boast a top-three offensive rating in the league. Their deliberate style has paid dividends, especially in the half-court, where playoff basketball is ultimately won. Sengun’s ability to operate as a hub-scoring from the post, facilitating from the elbows, and keeping the offense flowing-has been a revelation.
But even with all that success, there’s a fair question to ask: have the Rockets slowed things down too much?
Right now, Houston ranks 28th in the league in pace (97.26). Only the Celtics and Clippers play slower. That’s a stark contrast for a team that still rosters some of the most explosive athletes in the league, including Thompson, Green (before he was moved), and a soon-to-return Tari Eason.
Now, part of that slow pace is by design. The Rockets are the NBA’s best offensive rebounding team, and crashing the glass often means sacrificing transition defense.
You can’t both chase boards and get back on a dime. But even so, there’s room to find a better balance.
One area worth exploring? The frontcourt rotation.
Houston has leaned heavily into twin-tower lineups, often pairing Sengun with another big. The problem is, those lineups haven’t been particularly effective.
There’s no meaningful sample of a double-big combo with a positive net rating. That’s where Jabari Smith Jr. comes in.
He’s only played 3% of his minutes at the five this season-a career low-but giving him more run as a small-ball center could open up the floor and give the Rockets more flexibility to push the pace without sacrificing too much size.
And to be clear: this isn’t about phasing Sengun out. He’s the engine of this team, and he can play in a faster system.
In fact, when he grabs a rebound, his outlet passing and court vision are perfect tools to initiate a fast break. He’s also not a traditional rim-bound big-he often defends farther from the basket, which puts him in position to trail or even lead transition opportunities.
Another potential boost? The return of Tari Eason. He hasn’t been quite the same defensive disruptor this year-his steal percentage is down to 1.8% from a career mark of 2.9%-but if he can get back to his old self, he could help create the turnovers and deflections that fuel fast breaks.
The point here isn’t to blow up what’s working. The Rockets are on the right path.
They’ve got a clear identity, a rising star in Sengun, and a roster that’s starting to make sense around him. But if they can nudge that 28th-ranked pace up just a few spots-say, into the low 20s-they’ll unlock another gear.
Because while half-court execution wins in May and June, transition buckets are still the easiest points you can get in the NBA. And with athletes like Thompson and Eason, Houston has the personnel to capitalize.
This team doesn’t need a full identity overhaul. Just a little fine-tuning. And if they get it right, the Rockets won’t just be a playoff team-they’ll be a nightmare matchup for anyone standing in their way.