Although this is obviously a small sample size, Rockets have done everything they can early in the season to show that they deserve to be considered one of the best teams in the Western Conference, writes Varun Shankar of the Houston Chronicle.
The Rockets improved to 5-0 on Wednesday with a 32-point win over the Bucks in Milwaukee. The way the team has gone from 5-0 is impressive, with improved play from its young core and important contributions from returning veterans and offseason additions.
Houston’s pitching, which has often been an issue in the past, has looked much better, and the injuries are coming back Fred VanVleet put Amin Thompson is back in the defense-oriented, off-the-ball role he thrived in two seasons ago, notes Shankar.
“When you have shooters, respectable shooters, guys that defenses turn away from … to a guy who drives the ball … when given that space, Twine (Thompson) takes advantage of it” Durant said.
Here’s more on the Rockets:
- Veteran guard VanVleet said after Wednesday’s win that this year’s training camp was “one of the best (he’s) participated in” (Link to video on Twitter Space City Home Network). “There was something special in the air. Energy, unity, chemistry“VanVleet”.And I’m not just saying that because of the record – I could care less about the record, we’re focused on getting out of the first round (playoffs) this year, so I’m not too worried about what our record is right now – but we’re playing some damn good basketball and we’ve got to keep that going.”
- VanVleet recently said he’s looking to play more alongside the third-year guard Reid Sheppard and he got his wish on Wednesday with Marcus Smart still sidelined, Shankar tweets. The Rockets have until Nov. 2 to make a decision or do sports their 2027/28 option on Sheppard, although that should be a mere formality after he had a mini-breakthrough ’25/26 campaign. That fourth-year option is worth $14.04 million.
- U another story for The Houston Chronicle, Shankar explains how and why the Rockets opened the season just $14,000 below the luxury tax. According to Shankar, staying below that threshold for 2026/27 could be a priority as Houston plans to become a taxpayer in the coming years and Thompson’s five-year, $208 million rookie cap extension kicks in next season.