The Houston Rockets Are Going To Be Scary…

The Houston Rockets Are Going To Be Scary…

The scariest team in the NBA next season isn’t Denver. It’s not OKC. It’s definitely not Boston. It’s a team that’s just added a two-time finals MVP, has a 23-year-old allstar, leading all five major stats, and ranked fourth in defensive rating last year. Yeah, the Houston Rockets are going to be terrifying. Oh my goodness. Spike from behind. After pulling off a blockbuster trade for Kevin Durant, the Houston Rockets are hoping to follow in the footsteps of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Bringing in Durant instantly widens Houston’s championship window after last season’s first round exit. And sure, at 36 years old, the future Hall of Famer doesn’t exactly scream extended window, but the Rockets have the flexibility to pivot around their young stars Alprren Shenun and Amen Thompson. They’ve got a mix of promising talent, seasoned role players, and a stash of high upside draft picks to work with. Oh, and the man pulling the strings, a hyperfocused maniac who refuses to let his team get complacent just because of one good regular season. But to be fair, that run in the last regular season was phenomenal. Let’s go back in time for a sec. In 2021, the Rockets won just 17 games. In 2122, they won 20 games. In 2223 they won 22 games. Well, technically this is progress. But let’s be real. In an 82 game season, 20 wins is brutal. So, in the summer of 2023, Houston went for a culture reset. They hired MA Udoka, a nononsense defensive-minded coach with a track record for holding young stars accountable. Most importantly, he had proven he could turn things around quickly. And in year one, he did exactly that. The Rockets jumped to 41 wins in 23-24. This wasn’t just any Cinderella story. It was proof of concept. This team had what it takes to aim higher. But coming off that breakout year, reality hit early. They lost two of their first three games of the 24-25 season to mediocre opponents. Here’s Williams. Here come both teams, including a shocking home opening defeat to the lowly Charlotte Hornets. For a team with playoff expectations, the bad habits showing up this early were more alarming than the losses themselves. Udoka wasn’t having it. With some old school straight shooting adjustments, the Rockets refocused going 18 and N to close out the calendar year. In January, Jabari Smith Jr. fractured his left hand, sidelining one of their most versatile forwards. But the setback opened the door for Amen Thompson, who stepped into the starting lineup and built a legitimate defensive player of the year case. Still, inconsistency lingered. Between February and early March, Houston dropped 11 of 16 games, another reminder of how grueling the regular season can be. But a 15-5 finish with wins over playoff caliber teams locked in the number two seed in a tough Western Conference. The Rockets leaned on their top four defense all year and plan to ride it into the postseason. Instead, they bowed out in seven games to a much more experienced rival, the Golden State Warriors. The loss wasn’t just about inexperience. Houston’s seasonl long halfcourt spacing and three-point shooting issues boiled over at the worst time. In game seven, they went just 5 for 17 from deep and scored a dismal 78 points per 100 halfcourt possessions. For perspective, the Hornets, dead last in the league in that category during the regular season, still averaged 90. The message was clear. Their elite defense was ready, but their offense needed more ways to win than just crashing the glass. Still, this playoff run was a necessary step. For most of these young Rockets, it was their first taste of postseason basketball. They have an incredible identity that EMA has instilled in them. Warriors coach Steve Kerr said, “Grit, toughness. You know what you’re going to get when you play them. But Udoka wasn’t into moral victories. The Warriors took Houston’s offense that lacked a well-defined leader and flipped it against them, forcing someone to take over. And nobody did. And turnover. Green lays it in. Shenun finished game seven with 21 points on 23 shots. Van Vleet was held to 17 after three strong games. and Jaylen Green completely taken out of the series. Had just eight points on eight shots. Udoko knew his team wasn’t ready for that stage yet, but he’s expecting even more next year. We’ve taken steps and that’s shown not only in our record, but in our guys growth and understanding. He said, “We always want more. Selfish, greedy, whatever you want to call it. Everyone’s goal is to be better and come back better.” And the Rockets didn’t just talk about it, they backed it up. First, general manager Raphael Stone and owner Patrick Fertida aggressively kept their core intact. Udoka signed a long-term extension. Veterans Fred Van Vleet, and Steven Adams resigned quickly. Trusted veteran role players Aaron Holiday, Jeff Green, and Jan Tate all returned. Jabari Smith Jr. able to play positions three through five, a strong defender and one of Udoka’s favorites in New Deal as well. But when the chance came to add another piece to their core, Houston pounced and the whole league took notice. And no, calling this move historic is not an exaggeration. It was the largest trade in NBA history. Centerpiece Kevin Durant to Houston in exchange for Jaylen Green, Dylan Brooks, and a hall of other assets with no fewer than seven teams and 13 players involved. That’s seven teams. The Rockets also reunited with an old friend from the hardened Danton era, Clink Capella. He’ll round out a deep front court with Shenun and Steven Adams, doubling down on the bully ball lineups Houston used to dominate the glass last season. As on brand and financially savvy as the Capella pickup is, make no mistake, this was all about Durant. Last season, KD averaged 26.6 points on a mismatched, unhappy son’s squad. Over his 17-year career, the 6’11 forward has put up 27.2 points and seven rebounds a night. He’s a four-time scoring champ, two times finals MVP, and one of only eight players in NBA history with more than 30,000 points. “Having played against Kevin and coached him before, I know he’s the type of competitor who fits with what we’ve been building here in Houston,” said Udoka. His skill level, love of basketball, and dedication to his craft have made him one of the most respected players of his generation. Durant gives the Rockets the championship DNA they’ve been missing. He doesn’t just raise their ceiling, he raises their expectations. General manager Raphael Stone was just as blunt. He’s Kevin Durant. He’s just he’s really good. He’s super efficient. He had a great year last year. Obviously, he’s not 30 anymore, but he hasn’t really fallen off. and we think he can be hugely impactful for us has been the man in the clutch for the Suns over the last several years. But it’s Durant. The Durant deal, which cost Houston two starters and draft capital, was the clearest sign yet that the Rockets intend to compete at the highest level. And in the first hours of free agency, they doubled down on that intent. They signed veteran forward Dorian Finny Smith to a 4-year $53 million deal, adding more defense, better floor spacing, and taking a key role player away from the rival Lakers. For a 52- win team to land Durant without gutting its depth was already a massive win. Adding Finny Smith and Capella on teamfriendly deals put Houston in rare air. How does that rotation stack up leaguewide? This is now arguably the deepest roster in basketball. A team that’s gone from patient rebuild to allining contender in less than three seasons. And Udoka now has the personnel to play any style any time. But how do these moves fix the problems Houston faced in the playoffs? Let’s start with Durant. For all of Phoenix dysfunction last year, they still finished top 10 in half court offense largely thanks to KD’s steady production. O’Neal up ahead to KD the Ranch with the finish per cleaning the glass. The Suns were plus 6.2 points better per 100 possessions offensively with Durant on the floor. His team’s effective field goal percentage consistently jumps by about six points when he’s playing. A trend at every stop in his career. On paper, it’s a perfect fit. A smooth elite three-level scorer surrounded by high motor athletes and a crafty low post hub in Shenun. But there will be adjustments. This equal opportunity offense will now bend toward a guy who’s had the ball in his hands his entire career. Durant’s usage rate has been in the 93rd percentile or higher every season. That means fewer touches for Shenun, Van Bleet, Thompson, and others, but the trade-off could be massive. The Warriors strangled Houston with zone defense in the playoffs, so improving zone offense and spacing has been a major offseason focus. Expect to see KD as a screener popping into space while a big sets a back screen to free him. Fred Van Vleet, one of the best guard screeners in the league, can also be used to force mismatches, except now instead of setting up Shenon post up, those switches will free Durant for open jumpers. Finny Smith brings a different kind of value. He lit up Houston as a Laker last season, hitting 12 of 23s in their late matchups. His team were a plus 10.8 eight and plus 9.3 points per 100 possessions with him on the court both Brooklyn and LA respectively. He spaces, relocates, and converts, shooting 42.9% and 43.5% from the corners and nearly 40% above the break against zone. That kind of shooting turns probing possessions into quick clean looks. Blocked that time by Matthews. Biddy Smith reversal. A team that was bottom 10 in half court offense now adds two 40% shooters. One of them a top 10 scorer in NBA history. Houston’s coaching staff committed to big offensive improvement suddenly has endless lineup combinations to create elite spacing. And the homegrown core is only getting better. Alprren Shangon coming off an all-star year and about to feast with elite spacing. Amen Thompson, a two-way terror who will have more room to slash and more posters to collect. Adams and Compella, the league’s most intimidating offensive rebounding duo. And scariest of all, this team is so deep, we haven’t even mentioned the player who has a chance to be their biggest X factor for next season. The Rockets might already have their next breakout player in Reed Shepard. The 21-year-old guard taken third in the 2024 draft spent most of his rookie year glued to the bench with a productive G-League stint for the Vipers mixed in, but after the All-Star break, he started making the most of his opportunities. In late April against the Lakers and Clippers, both fighting for playoff seating, Shepard put up a combined 34 points, nine assists, eight rebounds, and four steals while shooting a scorching 10 for 18 from deep. His shooting is exactly what Houston needs. Even though he finished the season at just 33.8% from three, that number doesn’t tell the full story. His role was inconsistent. And for a player known for floor spacing, that matters. When given the green light, Shepard showed what he can do. Like in the Las Vegas Summer League, where he hit six threes against the Clippers, most of them heavily contested. He finished the game with a game high 28 points, plus eight boards, four assists, four steals, and three blocks in 33 minutes. I know I don’t have to uh ever say that to him during the year. Oh, wow. He went mix tape. Of course, as a number three overall pick, you expect him to shine against summer league competition. But the Rockets weren’t just looking at the stat sheet. They were testing him as a leader. In timeouts, Shepard was brought into the coach’s huddle. In practice, they pulled him aside to break down plays, out-of- bounds sets, and free throw situations. They wanted him to run the show, playing fast and free within the principles he learned from system. If that’s a preview of his role next season, Shepherd’s strengths will slide in perfectly next to the Rocket Stars, and any defensive issues will be easier to hide on one of the league’s best defensive units. And speaking of defense, Houston has gotten even scarier. Last year they were already top five on that end. Now they’ve added more physicality, rim protection, switchability, and point of attack pressure. Imagine a lineup with Amen Thompson, Tari E, Dorian Finny Smith, Jabari Smith Jr., and Kevin Durant. The length is absurd. The Rockets can now match up with anyone and play any defensive style they want. This isn’t just a rebuilding team anymore. The Rockets are going allin on winning and developing at the same time. They’ve been compared to OKC in their approach. And while the two teams aren’t identical, Houston is just as aware of the league’s current parody. They’re gearing up for a fight at the top of the Western Conference, maybe as soon as next season. If everything falls into place, we might be looking at the early stages of a dynasty. Rockets check every box. Elite defense, superstar acquisition, young core improvement, depth plus spacing, coaching. They’ve got the culture, the talent, the coach. And now the closer. The Houston Rockets aren’t coming. They’re already here. And if you’re not ready, you’re going to get cooked. Do you think the Rockets truly have what it takes to dethrone the Thunder in the West this season? Let me know in the comments. We’re watching their season prep closely. So, make sure you subscribe to the channel, turn on notifications, and don’t miss any of our future breakdown.

The Houston Rockets are no longer rebuilding — they’re ready to scare the entire NBA. In this video, we break down exactly why the Rockets are emerging as one of the league’s most dangerous teams heading into the 2025/26 season. From blockbuster trades to smart free agency moves, Houston has transformed into a legitimate contender almost overnight.

The addition of Kevin Durant brings championship experience and elite scoring, while Clint Capela reunites with the Rockets to anchor the paint and dominate the boards. Dorian Finney-Smith adds lockdown perimeter defense, perfectly complementing the young core led by Alperen Sengun, and Amen Thompson. This blend of star power, veteran leadership, and youthful energy makes Houston a nightmare matchup for any team.

We’ll break down how Ime Udoka’s coaching has elevated the Rockets’ defense, their offensive versatility, and why this roster has the tools to make a deep playoff run. The Western Conference better be on high alert — Houston is coming.

If you’re a basketball fan who loves seeing a team rise from rebuild to powerhouse, this is a must-watch.

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