The Rockets are rolling! Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.
After defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 135-131 on Saturday, the Houston Rockets (30-14) have one of the best records in the Western Conference and have playoff aspirations for the first time since the 2019-20 season.
Houston may have improved earlier than anticipated, but this team has the star players, depth, and head coach to make some noise once the playoffs start.
All-Star caliber players
Both Jalen Green and Alperen Şengün have improved greatly this year, and one of them (maybe both) could be selected to join the All-Star team this week for the first time in their careers.
Green leads the team with 21.3 points per game and has become one of the more consistent scorers for the Rockets this season. The 22-year-old is averaging career highs in both field goal percentage and three-pointers as well.
Complementing Green is Şengün, who is averaging a double-double this season and is developing into one of the top centers in the league.
Having not one but two All-Star caliber players on a roster is ideal for team success, and a great foundational piece to make the Rockets competitive for years to come.
Two players can have a big impact on a game-to-game basis, but having a good supporting cast around said players can make a good team elite.
Solid rotation depth
In addition to Green and Sengün, the Rockets have a plethora of role players who can step up if either one is having an off game.
Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks were brought in last season to give the Rockets a veteran presence to help develop their young core, and it seems to be working well. VanFleet can take over a game offensively when needed, and Brooks is a solid 3-and-D player who usually takes the toughest defensive assignment each game but can be a scoring threat as well. Another key contributing player is Amen Thompson, who is having a stellar second season of his NBA career and has filled in nicely for the injured Jabari Smith Jr.
Other players such as Tari Eason, and Cam Whitmore can provide scoring depth off the bench, and Steven Adams, a defensive first role player, is an excellent rebounder and rim protector.
Forward Jabari Smith Jr. is out with a fractured left hand, and won’t return until at least February 21st, according to reports. Once Smith is cleared to play again, Houston will get a key contributor back to solidify their starting lineup.
Having a roster with depth is essential for any playoff-caliber team, and could be a formidable asset to ensure the Rockets finish the regular season with a good record and make a playoff run.
An elite coach
When Houston hired head coach Ime Udoka last season, they were hoping he could elevate the team to the next level, and he has more than delivered on that promise.
In Udoka’s first year, he helped the Rockets improve from a 22-60 record (in 22-23) to finish the 23-24 campaign with a 41-41 record, respectively.
Houston's rise to the top can be attributed to their improvement on defense.
According to Fox Sports, the Rockets give up on average 107.8 points per game, which ranks fourth best in the NBA behind the Thunder, Magic, and Clippers.
"If we guard the way we are capable of, we give ourselves a great chance every night instead of getting into shootouts," Udoka said.
Another asset the Rockets coach has on his coaching resume is his playoff experience.
When Udoka was the head coach for the Celtics, he led Boston to the NBA Finals before ultimately losing to the Warriors in six games.
The 47-year-old has also been a part of multiple coaching staffs whose teams went to the playoffs consistently, including winning a championship while he was on the Spurs staff in 2014.
Having an experienced coach is a good asset to have, especially for a young team in which most of the players have never been to the postseason thus far in their careers.
With two All-Star level players, a deep roster and a good head coach, the Rockets have all the necessary tools to make it back to the playoffs for the first time in four years and become a tough team to beat once the postseason starts.
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Houston falls short as Soto’s homer, missed opportunities doom Astros
Mar 28, 2025, 10:26 pm
With a chance to make a late splash in his New York Mets debut, Juan Soto came up empty.
After signing the biggest contract in baseball history last offseason, the slugger came to bat with two runners aboard and the Mets down by two in the ninth inning Thursday. But instead of delivering the huge hit New York was looking for, he whiffed on a full-count slider from hard-throwing closer Josh Hader that was way outside the strike zone to send the Mets to a second straight opening day loss in Houston's 3-1 victory.
“He just got me in that situation,” Soto said.
Hader loaded the bases with nobody out, then fanned third-string catcher Hayden Senger in his first major league at-bat. Francisco Lindor’s sacrifice fly made it 3-1, and there were runners on first and third when Hader struck out Soto for his 200th career save.
“We all want to do something in a big spot,” Soto said. “We’re all trying to get the knock and try to bring the runs in and try to help the team either way.”
Soto singled and walked twice against the Astros after signing a record $765 million, 15-year contract as a free agent in December.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza was asked if he thought Soto felt extra pressure in the ninth inning because it was his first game with a new team.
“Yeah, of course, as a competitor he always wants to come through,” Mendoza said. “I thought he had some good at-bats today and even on that one he got it 3-0 and then 3-1 and that pitch that he got there (he) just missed it. Pretty good pitch. But he’ll come through.”
Soto, who played for the American League champion New York Yankees last season, joins the Mets as they chase their first World Series title since 1986.
The four-time All-Star was disappointed his first game with the Mets didn't go their way.
“I was expecting to win the game,” he said. “Definitely it’s not how we wanted. ... They’re a really good team over there and they come in and grind. For me it was a good experience. These guys are amazing and we’ve been having a good time since spring training and we’ve just got to bring that all the way.”
The 26-year-old Soto hit .288 with 41 homers and 109 RBIs last year and won a Silver Slugger Award for a fifth straight season.
Soto is a career .285 hitter with 201 home runs and 592 RBIs in seven major league seasons. He's also played for the Nationals and Padres.
*Looking to get the word out about your business, products, or services? Consider advertising on SportsMap! It's a great way to get in front of Houston sports fans. Click the link below for more information!