Blog

Rockets Clash with Thunder in NBA Cup Semis

Neutral Vision.    Necessary Villain.    Win or Go Home.

For the first time in franchise history, the Rockets will play a regular season game at a neutral site. On Saturday night in Las Vegas, Houston faces off against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the semifinals of the NBA Cup. To reach these semis, the Rockets finally beat the Golden State Warriors, ending Houston’s suffering of nearly four years at the hands of their Bay Area foes. Oklahoma City ousted the Dallas Mavericks, 118-104, in the quarterfinals to reach this stage. The Thunder still sit atop the Western Conference in first place. OKC has been playing extremely well lately, winning eight of their last nine games. The only loss? To the Houston Rockets back in H-Town earlier this month. Houston barely squeaked by with a three-point victory in that contest. And on a bigger stage, the task will be highly challenging against a Thunder team with more experience, especially in big moments.

The biggest question for the Rockets tonight came earlier this morning. Dillon Brooks was a late addition to the injury report, and is listed as questionable for tonight’s matchup. If DB9 can’t play, Houston has a serious problem. The Rockets are already heavy underdogs heading into this matchup. Without Brooks, the anchor of their defense and toughness, Houston has even less of a chance to pull the upset. Hopefully, Brooks can battle through his illness and suit up for the Rockets. He’s one of the toughest players in the NBA, and given the national stage tonight’s game is on, Brooks should be motivated as ever to play.

Chet Holmgren remains out for OKC, but they still have an arsenal of talented players. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 39 points in the Thunder’s win over the Mavs. Isaiah Hartenstein was a force in the previous matchup between these teams in Houston. His battle with Aleperen Sengun in the paint is the key matchup to watch in tonight’s game. Jalen Williams seems to play better with each game as he continues playing at an All-Star caliber level. Defensive specialist Lu Dort is ready to be OKC’s version of Dillon Brooks. Houston’s been lucky as they’ve been relatively healthy all season long. If DB9 can play tonight, the Rockets should be able to at least make this game competitive. By finally downing their nemesis in the Warriors, Houston earned this little “playing vacation” out in the desert. But how long do the Rockets really want to stay in Vegas? A spot in the Championship game is on the line tonight. Houston’s mission to prolong their first stay in Sin City is simple: win or go home.

 

T-Mobile Arena:  Las Vegas, Nevada

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (17-8):  White

Oklahoma City Thunder (19-5):  Orange

 

Tip-Off:  7:30 PM CT

TV:  ABC

Rockets Sneak Past Warriors, 91-90, Advance to NBA Cup Semis

Vegas Bound.    Clamping Down.    Fair Call.

 

For first time in this last sixteen times, the Houston Rockets finally managed to beat their nemesis, the Golden State Warriors. The Rockets edged the Warriors, 91-90, on Wednesday night, and punched their ticket to the NBA Cup Semifinals in Las Vegas. Houston closed the game on a 7-0 run to sneak past Golden State. Once again, the Rockets clamped down defensively, as they held the Warriors scoreless for the final 3:03 of the contest. Alperen Sengun led Houston with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists. Jabari Smith scored 15 points, and Jalen Green hit two pressure-filled free throws to seal the win. Green finished with only 12 points, as his consistency continues, but he’s never played well against Golden State. What matters is he was able to knock down the crucial freebees that essentially gave the Rockets the victory. The emerging Jonathan Kuminga scored 20 points to lead the Warriors, and Steph Curry added 19 points for Golden State.

This battle was decided in the trenches, with players diving to the floor in the final seconds, with Golden State holding a one point lead. After a battle for the ball on the floor, a foul was called on the Warriors, which led to Green’s game-winning free throws. Steve Kerr and the entire Golden State team whined about the call on the floor, with only 3 seconds to go in the game. However, the NBA stated after the game that crew chief Billy Kennedy had made the right call. So any statements about calling the officials “elementary school referees”, as Kerr said in his heated post-game presser, can be put to bed. Houston won this game fair and square.

The Rockets led by as many as fourteen points in the first half, but the Warriors stormed back to take a one point lead at halftime. At one point, it looked like Houston was headed for a very sour sixteenth straight loss to Golden State. Facing a seven-point deficit, 89-82, with around three and a half minutes remaining, the Rockets closed the game on a 9-1 run to edge the Warriors. Finally, the nearly five year drought to their nemesis has ended. The dragon has been slayed. And with the win, Houston punched their ticket to Sin City, where they’ll face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Cup Semifinals on Saturday night. And it should be an thrilling affair in the entertainment capital of the world, marking the first time the Rockets have ever played a game in Las Vegas.

Rockets Host Warriors in NBA Cup Quarterfinal Showdown

Vegas Dreams.    Exorcise Time.    Taste of the Future.

“It’s not another regular season game. Some of these guys have never played on TNT,” Houston’s Fred VanVleet said when asked about tonight’s upcoming NBA Cup Quarterfinal matchup. Just another game? That’s what some players will tell themselves in situations comparable to these upcoming festivities at Toyota Center. But tonight’s game is different. On Wednesday night, the Rockets host the Golden State Warriors in the quarterfinals of The NBA Cup, with the winner punching a ticket to the semifinals in Las Vegas for a date with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Tonight’s contest still counts as “just another game” in the standings, but this one means a little more to this young Rockets squad. A lot more. This is Houston’s biggest game in over four years. The Rockets haven’t played a match of this magnitude since losing to the Lakers in the 2020 Western Conference Finals. And it’s only fitting that Houston’s opponent for tonight’s huge contest is the Warriors: their nemesis for nearly the past half decade.

It’s been almost five years since the Rockets have beaten Steph Curry’s Dubs. The last time Houston downed Golden State, James Harden was still on the roster. To sum up this “rivalry”, the Rockets have lost fifteen straight games to the Warriors. It’s the longest losing streak against any single opponent in Houston’s franchise history. A long-enduring suffering that has to eventually come to an end. Will tonight be the night?

This season, the Rockets are 0-2 against the Dubs, with both losses coming against a Curry-less Warriors team. Tonight, Curry will be in the lineup. And he has a history of lighting up Toyota Center throughout his storied career. Curry is the ultimate Rocket-Killer. The face of Houston’s super-nemesis, these Golden State Warriors. And he’s caused more heartbreak in H-Town than any single opposing player in Rockets history. Houston needs their “A” game tonight, along with a little luck from the basketball gods, in order to prevent Curry from spoiling another night in Houston.

In good news, Tari Eason returns from concussion protocol after missing the last two games. Eason was instrumental in leading Houston’s comeback in the first meeting between these quads. And for this monumental game, the Terror Twins are reactivated and ready to go. And Fred VanVleet is back in the lineup after missing the previous game. However, Alperen Sengun is listed as questionable due to knee soreness. If Sengun can’t play, the Rockets are in trouble. Jalen Green has struggled mightily against Golden State throughout his career. The Warriors seem to currently have the Rockets and Jalen Green’s number. And Draymond Green is back in Golden State’s lineup after missing the last matchup between these Western foes.

Will Houston finally slay the dragon  and exorcise the demons that have tormented this squad for half a decade? The Rockets should have a decent shot to win, but any time Steph Curry has been on the opposing side, it hasn’t turned out well for Houston, especially for the last four years running. Expect anything but a normal game tonight. This is the closest the Rockets will experience a playoff-like atmosphere until (and if) they make the postseason at regular season’s end. It’s a taste of the future for this Houston team who’s young core has yet to experience playoff basketball. And for tonight’s dish, Dillon Brooks and Draymond Green will ensure the proceedings turn dicey. The Rockets have yet to lose an NBA Cup game at home. And on Wednesday night, Houston has a chance to prove they’re legitimate in front of a nationally televised audience. With a trip to Vegas on the line, and the Rockets motivated to avoid a sour sixteenth straight loss to the Warriors… tonight’s matchup is not just another regular season game.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Golden State Warriors (14-9):  White

Houston Rockets (16-8):  Black

 

Tip-Off:  8:30 PM CT

TV:  TNT,  Space City Home Network

Rockets Sink Clippers, 117-106, Behind Green’s 31 Points

Perfect Cut.    Stay Ready Crew.    Building Momentum.

Houston ended their road trip in the NBA’s newest arena, Intuit Dome, and earned their third win over the Clippers this season with a 117-106 triumph on Sunday night. The Rockets were without two key rotational pieces, Fred VanVleet and Tari Eason, but still managed to win in relatively comfortable fashion. James Harden didn’t play for Los Angeles, which didn’t hurt Houston’s path to victory by any means. Jalen Green scored 31 points to lead the Rockets’ offensive attack. In his second start of the season, Amen Thompson scored a season-high 22 points. Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr. both had double-doubles, and Dillon Brooks also added 19 points for Houston. Bones Hyland led the Clippers with 22 points, and Ivica Zubac chipped in 21 points and 12 rebounds, but without the Beard, they didn’t have enough firepower to contend with the Rockets. And “The Wall” inside Intuit Dome had little effect on Houston’s players.

Several guys saw extended minutes for Houston in the absences of VanVleet and Eason on Sunday night. The “Stay Ready Crew” was prepared to come in and contribute winning plays. Aaron Holiday scored 11 points in 19 minutes off the bench. Jae’Sean Tate scored 6 points and grabbed 4 boards. Steven Adams also chipped in 4 points and 4 rebounds off the pine for the Rockets. Reed Sheppard played 11 minutes and once again had a dismal performance, further adding proof he needs to be sent to the G-League. The rookie just isn’t ready for this stage yet, and Houston has guys like Aaron Holiday, or the recently called-up Cam Whitmore, who are far better players at this moment. Theses Rockets are in win-now mode, trying to win as many games as possible in order to gain a solid position come playoff time. Houston simply doesn’t have the luxury to play someone like Sheppard who should be in the G-League, just because he was the third overall pick. With a sample size of 24 games now, it’s evident the rookie is on the verge of being a bust. But General Manager Rafael Stone has built such a deep team, and many are players he drafted (Sengun, Green, Eason, Thompson). The Rockets are in great position as long as they don’t like their bust of a rookie ruin their season.

Houston is now a perfect 3-0 against the Clips this season, as they were able to salvage a win to close out their West Coast road trip. This victory was important as the squad needed some sort of momentum heading into the next matchup. Which happens to be the biggest game of the season. And the biggest in most of these young players’ careers. On Wednesday night the Rockets will host the dreaded Golden State Warriors in the Quarterfinal of the NBA Cup. Houston has lost fifteen straight games to the Dubs, but the Rockets have been playing well at home recently. The squad will aim to start a new streak against the Warriors, as the Rockets play host to the proceedings at Toyota Center on Wednesday night.

Rockets Make First Visit to Intuit Dome, Face Clippers to End Road Trip

Negative Streaking.    The Wall.    Missing Eason.

For the first time all season, the Rockets are moving in the wrong direction. Houston has lost two games in a row, after managing to plow through the first 22 games of the schedule without dropping two straight. And on Sunday night, the Rockets are in danger of continuing their negative streaking, as they visit the Clippers in their brand new arena, Intuit Dome. Tonight’s tilt is the end of a three game West Coast road trip for Houston, who is 0-2 so far on the trip. This game marks the third matchup against the Clippers for the Rockets. Houston is 2-0 against the Clips this season after beating them in consecutive games at Toyota Center earlier this season.

Since those early matchups, L.A. has shown real improvement. The Clippers are 8-3 since losing to the Rockets. And they’re 9-5 at home, as opposed to 5-5 on the road. Their new arena features a section called “The Wall,” which is designated for hardcore Clippers fans only. It’s basically if they let the Red Rowdies sit closer to the court and directly behind the basket, instead of farther up and out of player view sight. The Wall is located directly behind one of the baskets, and brings an atmosphere that resembles something more like college basketball. The new amenity, and first of its kind in the NBA, has already frustrated opponents. It’ll be intriguing to see how this Houston squad handles The Wall. The Rockets are desperately trying to snag a win on this road trip before returning home for a huge NBA Cup Quarterfinal game against the Warriors.

Tari Eason remains out for Houston, which is bad news. The Rockets spiraled downward after Eason’s season-ending injury early last season. And the effects of Eason’s absence have already been felt in only one game so far this year. Hopefully Head Coach Ime Udoka has his players fired up. Houston can’t play with any less energy than they displayed in their Bay Area loss on Thursday night. In other bad news, the Clippers are coming off a beatdown at home courtesy of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Expect L.A. to play much tougher and sharper tonight against the Rockets. And in other bad news, James Harden scored only 5 points in the Clips’ previous loss. The Beard will likely be licking his chops to have a go-round at his former team in his house. Normal Powell has been playing at an All-Star level for the Clippers, and his status for this matchup remains a game-time decision, one that will have a huge impact on tonight’s contest. Can the Rockets escape the Golden State with their first win in California this season? Find out tonight as Houston wraps up their first west coast road trip of the season.

 

Intuit Dome:  Los Angeles, California

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (15-8):  Red

Los Angeles Clippers (14-10):  White

 

Tip-Off:  8:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Fail to Launch in Sluggish 99-93 Loss to Warriors

Mental Letdown.    No Terror.    Number, Please?

 

No Steph Curry. No Draymond Green. Still no problem for the Golden State Warriors, who beat the Rockets 99-93 on Thursday night. It’s now Houston’s fifteenth straight loss to the Warriors. Their longest losing streak against any single opponent in franchise history. And the Rockets lost this game before it even started. They overlooked this undermanned Golden State team, and as a result, got outplayed from the opening tip. Tari Eason was out for Houston, as he remains in concussion protocol. But lacking their energetic pulse is still no excuse for the Rockets to have their most sluggish game of the season. Alperen Sengun led a slow offensive night for Houston with 16 points. Eason’s absence is very notable. The Rockets may have still lost in ugly fashion with him on the court, but Houston hasn’t looked this bad. And Thursday’s loss to the Warriors marks the first game all season The Terror Twins weren’t whole.

The Rockets were basically beaten by two players: Golden State’s Jonathan Kuminga and Andrew Wiggens. The duo combined to score 56 of the Dubs’ 99 points, well over half. Kuminga in particular had a career, night scoring a team-high 33 points to ruin Houston’s night. Despite his performance, the way the Rockets have been playing defensively all season, this was a game that felt like they still had a chance to win. They allowed Golden State to score only 99 points, but Houston’s offense was horrendous once again. This is also the first time all season the Rockets have lost two games in a row. Which is pretty impressive through their first 22 games. But now the squad is streaking in the wrong direction for the first time all season. The Rockets will try and get back on track as they finish this West Coast trip in L.A. against the Clippers on Sunday night.

These Rockets and Warriors will meet soon on Wednesday night in the NBA Cup Quarterfinal in Houston. In that game it’s very likely Curry and Green will both be available for the Warriors. But does it matter? Golden State just seems to have Houston’s number. The Rockets truly seem cursed against the Warriors. Curry hasn’t played in both losses this season to the Warriors. Yet Golden State has won both in relatively easy fashion (although the first game did feature an almost Houston comeback). James Harden was still a Rocket the last time Houston beat Golden State. That’s how long it’s been. And the Rockets will have another very solid chance on Wednesday night. Houston is 9-3 at home this season, and they went 3-1 in NBA Cup Group Stage games. That bloodthirsty-red court does seem to fire up the Rockets to play better basketball. But it be enough to end a winning drought to this Warriors team that’s least nearly five years? We’ll find out next week, as these teams will meet in Houston, with a chance to advance to Las Vegas on the line.

Rockets Clash with Warriors for a Battle in the Bay

Part Two.    Tune Up.    Streakers.

For the second leg of their three-game West Coast road-trip, the Rockets visit the Golden State Warriors for matchup number two between these rivals this season. The Warriors won the first matchup, which ended up being one of the crazier games of the year so far. Houston trailed by 31 points, stormed all the way back to force overtime, but ended up losing in the end. Golden State was minus superstar Steph Curry in that game, but Curry will be available tonight. Houston has a lost a devastation fourteen consecutive games to these Warriors. The Rockets basically haven’t beaten the Dubs since the pandemic. The last time Houston beat Golden State was back on February 20, 2020. It’s been nearly five calendar years. The Rockets will aim to end that streak tonight in as they touch down in Chase Center.

The Warriors are reeling, having lost their last five straight games. They’re also coming off a tough two-point loss to the Denver Nuggets, that also featured bad officiating. The Rockets are trying to bounce back from the worst-officiate contest they’ve been involved in all season, after falling to the Kings, 120-111, on Tuesday night. These teams also will be meeting in the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup in Houston next Wednesday, for a right to advance to Las Vegas. So instead of seeing Golden State for the usual four times, the Rockets will have to play their dreaded rivals five times this season.

One of theses streaks is ending tonight in the Bay Area. The Rockets will finally snap their fourteen game skid to Golden State, or the Warriors will once again beat Houston, ending their own five game losing streak. Golden State’s superstar Steph Curry didn’t play In the first matchup, which factored into the Rockets overlooking the Warriors to begin play. Don’t expect the Houston to overlook a heathy and desperate Golden State team on Tuesday night. Both teams are desperately seeking a victory as they try and snap out of their respective skids. Will tonight be the night the Rockets finally overcome their California rivals, who’ve bullied Houston for almost five years running? The Rockets are bound for a better offensive outing than they had in Sacramento. Houston’s been one of the most resilient teams all season. The Rockets have yet to lose two straight games so far this entire season. And the Warriors have rarely lost six straight games in the Steve Kerr era. Something’s bound to give tonight, in what should be a testy and feisty Battle in the Bay Area.

 

Chase Center:  San Francisco, California

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (15-7):  Red

Golden State Warriors (12-8):  White

 

Tip-Off:  9:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA TV

Poor Officiating Clouds Rockets’ 120-111 Loss to Kings

Blind Whistle.    Unlikely Stretch.    The Inspirers.

In their final NBA Cup Group Stage match, the Rockets fell to the Kings, 120-111, on Tuesday night. This was the worst officiated game Houston’s been a part of all season. Ime Udoka and Alperen Sengun were tossed near the end of the contest. The refs seemed to be trying to atone for costing Sacramento the 2002 Western Conference Finals, or they were getting paid to throw this game. The officiating was that atrocious. Udoka had the best postgame rant about NBA refs all season when he suggested how the officials could fix their problems, Ime said “so get some f**king glasses up in your eyes.” The refs were simply not calling the game both ways. Sengun was getting hacked without any fouls being called, and the Rockets were being called for ticky-tack calls if they barely touched a Sacramento player.

If there’s any good news from Tuesday’s loss, Jalen Green at least had a bounce-back performance. Green scored 28 points on 9-for-14 shooting to lead Houston’s offensive attack. Alperen Sengun had another slow start, scoring only six first half points. The Wizard bounced back in the second half to finish the game with 24 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists. And Tari Eason provided 16 points, 12 boards, and 3 steals off the bench.

The Rockets had a chance to win this game, even with the Kings going on an offensive stretch rarely seen in professional basketball. Sacramento made fifteen consecutive shots on Tuesday night. The Kings made their last six shots of the first half, and their first nine buckets in the third quarter to pull away from the Rockets. Sacramento connected on nearly 74 percent of their shots in the third period. And in the fourth quarter, the refs halted any of Houston’s attempts at a comeback.

This game featured several Kings players who had been struggling all season. And they all seemed to snap out of funks against the Rockets. Kevin “Red Velvet” Huerter scored 13 points, Keegan Murray also added 13 in the scoring column. Malik Monk scored 17 points. And the Kings “Big Three” of DeAaon Fox, Domantas Sabonis, and DeMar DeRozan all had solid games. This Houston team seems to inspire struggling opponents to play their best basketball. Coming into this matchup, the Kings had lost six of their previous seven games. When the Rockets narrowly lost in Milwaukee earlier this season, the Bucks were 4-9 before the game. After beating Houston, Milwaukee won their next seven games in a row. And after the Rockets beat the Clippers twice in a row at Toyota Center earlier season, L.A. went on to win five straight games, and eight out of ten overall. Don’t be surprised if this game marks the beginning of a hot streak for Sacramento.

Being the final group stage game of the NBA Cup, the Kings were already eliminated from knockout play. And with the loss, the Rockets ended up finishing second in the NBA Cup Standings in the Western Conference, and will host the hated Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night in Houston. The winner will advance to the semifinals in Las Vegas. Ironically enough, Houston’s next opponent on this three-game California trip happens to be: those same Golden State Warriors. These squads will meet for the second time this season on Thursday night in San Francisco before their NBA Cup Quarterfinal matchup. And the Rockets are desperately aiming to finally snap a fourteen game skid at the hands of their Bay Area rivals.

Rockets Visit Kings to Wrap Up NBA Cup Group Stage

California Dreaming.    4 The Cup.    Extinguish the Beam.

The Houston Rockets begin a three-game road-trip on the left coast out West tonight as they visit the reeling Sacramento Kings. After tonight, Houston will visit Golden State on Thursday, as they try and end their forever-slide against their hated, rival Warriors. Finally, their West-Coast trip ends with a matchup in L.A. at the brand new Intuit Dome against the Clippers. It will be Houston’s first look at “The Wall”, the Clippers’ infamous “fans-only” section that’s already frustrating opposing players. I’ll dive deeper into this intriguing new building as Sunday’s match approaches. Basically, it’s this tilt begins a tough road trip for the Rockets, and presents another early-season measuring stick for this battle-tested young squad. For now, back to tonight’s game.

This matchup marks the final NBA Cup Group Stage game for both teams. Houston has already clinched a berth in the knockout round. Meanwhile, Sacramento has been eliminated. The Kings currently sit in 12th place in the West, with a 9-12 record. Only two seasons removed from a stellar year where they finished third in the conference, Sacramento has regressed once again to begin the year. The Rockets went 3-0 against the Kings last year, but they have to maintain their discipline tonight. Sacramento still boasts plenty of talented players.

De’Aaron Fox is still one of the best crunch time players in the NBA. Domantas Sabonis is a beast inside. Expect a tough battle for Alperen Sengun tonight against another physical, talented big man. Sengun’s started slow in the last three games, but he’s made up for that with dominant second halves. Hopefully, The Wizard has a better first half tonight. This is the site where Sengun suffered his season-ending injury last year. The Rockets have to be extremely thankful they’ve suffered no major injuries to start the season. This Houston squad truly defines playing as a team, and an injury to a key piece could fracture the squad’s future success.

Besides their dynamic All-Star duo, the Kings also have a newly acquired All-Star, in DeMar DeRozan, who played for the Chicago Bulls last season. Sac-Town’s “Big Three” of Fox, Sabonis, and DeRozan combined to score 76 points in the Kings’ previous game, a two point loss at home, to the San Antonio Spurs. They may not be winning at the rate of the previous two seasons, but they still boast a plethora of All-Star talent. Houston has to remain focused defensively, and can’t afford to overlook this Kings team, or they’ll be in store for a loss.

Sacramento has a tradition where they “Light the Beam” after winning games at home. But these Rockets have other plans, as they can clinch the number one overall seed in the West’s knockout round of the NBA Cup with a win. Tonight’s battle marks the first of three straight tough road tests for the young squad. It’s not impossible to dream up three straight wins in California, especially given the squad’s recent performances. This is Houston’s weakest opponent on this road trip, as the Rockets will aim to keep the Kings reeling… and prevent any beams from being lit in Sac-Town on Tuesday night.

 

Golden 1 Center:  Sacramento, California

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (15-6):  White

Sacramento Kings (9-12):  Purple

 

Tip-Off:  9:00 PM CT

TV:  Space City Home Network,  NBA League Pass

The Surprise:  Houston Rockets 2024/2025 Quarter Season Review

Growing Up.    Welcome 2 Hell.    The Polarizer.

We’re officially a quarter of the way into the NBA season, and nobody saw these guys coming. Not like this. The Houston Rockets have blasted out of the gates with a 15-6 record, their best start to a season since 2017/2018, when they won a franchise-record 65 games. So why, seemingly out of nowhere, are these Rockets the surprise of NBA through the season’s first quarter? Plenty of reasons, but the simple fact is this young team is finally growing up, individually, and as a cohesive unit. Jalen Green feels like the old man on this team, and he’s only 22 years old. Sengun is also only 22, and Amen Thompson is a spry 21 years of age. His fellow Terror Twin, Tari Eason is the oldest of the core that Houston’s drafted over the past several years. And Eason’s just 23 years old. Give these guys two or three more years to improve, and the Rockets are going to be a serious problem for the rest of the league for years to come. Just look Houston’s defense for an example of this overall team growth. Swarming and switching, as if they were on a collective string. But it’s not just the defense. The ball movement on offense seems to be at a record high, along with the assists. It always takes time to adjust to a new coaching system. And in Ime Udoka’s second season, everyone’s bought in to his system. And while the Rockets still aren’t shooting the ball at an efficient clip, their offensive rebounding and transition dominance have made up for struggles shooting the rock.

Welcome to Hell. If you’re here, you’re not dead. You’re not suffering in eternity. You’re an opposing player going up against the Rockets, and your offensive game plan is about to be wrecked by the Terror Twins, aka Amen Thompson and Tari Eason, who make up the NBA’s best bench duo. Dillon Brooks still guards the other team’s best player to start the game. But it’s not until the Terror Twins enter a game when Houston really starts to wreak havoc on defense. It’s like a pair of your worst favorite relatives showing up unexpectedly at the last minute, only to sadistically ruin Thanksgiving dinner. It’s not a coincidence that the team’s 13-9 start last season coincided with Eason on the court. Eason missed the final 58 games, and the Rockets weren’t the same team without him. Throw in Amen Thompson’s vast improvement in his second season, and you have the NBA’s best bench duo. And while, “watch these two bench guys play defense” isn’t the most enticing elevator pitch, the Terror Twins live up to their nickname. Watching them decimate a good offense is as fun as watching a red-hot offense go off. They don’t so much play defense. Rather, the Terror Twins hellaciously haunt their opponents souls and terrorize their spirits. Courtesy of these Terror Twins, welcome to the NBA’s version of hell: a confounding, incessantly physical experience that is likely to exhaust any opponent.

And now, allow me to introduce you to Jalen Green. Not many NBA players score 41 points one night, only to score 9 points the next game. Such is the inconsistency that has defined Green’s career as we’re a quarter of the way into his fourth season. Green isn’t only the most polarizing member of the Rockets, he’s arguably the most polarizing player in the entire league. One night he plays with the superstar potential Houston fans hoped he’d blossom into by now. Other nights he’s benched in the fourth quarter for one of the Terror Twins, and it’s resulted in wins. If there’s any silver lining regarding Green, he’s followed suit with his teammates, and made solid improvements on defense. When his offense is on, Green is one of the best two-way players in the NBA. But after a deceptive start, Green’s offensive efficient nights are few and far between. Green is the ultimate basketball enigma: and one the Rockets need to eventually solve if they want to be considered a true championship contender. And despite the 60-win pace Houston is currently on, it’s unlikely they reach that mark, or win the title this year. But whoever is planning to better be ready… these Rockets are coming for the throne sooner than anyone anticipated.