The Rockets spent years tanking and collecting lottery picks. Now the question is whether those picks are turning into a real team.
The core pieces:
- Jalen Green — Scoring ability is undeniable. 24 PPG this season. But the efficiency concerns are real. His shot selection in crunch time is maddening. He takes contested pull-up threes with 18 seconds on the shot clock.
- Alperen Sengun — The most skilled center in the league under 25. His passing out of the post is Jokic-lite. Conditioning is the question. He fades hard in the 4th quarter.
- Amen Thompson — The wildcard. His athleticism is absurd and the playmaking flashes are tantalizing. If the jumper ever comes, league is in trouble.
The Toyota Center energy on a Saturday night when this team is clicking is legit. The problem is consistency.
The Ime Udoka question: Defense has improved dramatically. Offense is still figuring out its identity. Is Udoka the guy to take this core to a championship, or does this team eventually need a more offensive-minded coach?
Timeline: Realistic contention window starts 2027. The West is a bloodbath. You need these guys entering their prime simultaneously.
Source: Basketball Reference, Cleaning the Glass, The Athletic