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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