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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Jun 11, 2025, 5:11 pm
The Houston Astros return to action Wednesday night with a chance to get back on track and even their three-game set against the visiting Chicago White Sox.
White Sox continue to have Houston's number
After falling 4–2 in Tuesday’s opener, the Astros now trail the season series 3–1 and will turn to Ryan Gusto (3-3, 4.78 ERA) in hopes of steadying the ship and reinforcing their grip on first place in the AL West.
Houston enters the matchup at 36–30 overall and 22–13 at home, a mark that reflects just how comfortable they've been playing in front of their fans. Though the offense has been inconsistent at times, the Astros are an impressive 19–4 when they manage to keep the ball in the yard — a stat that will be key with Gusto on the mound. The young right-hander has had an up-and-down season, but he'll be tasked with limiting a White Sox offense that did just enough to sneak away with a win in the opener.
Chicago, meanwhile, continues to play with a bit of unexpected edge despite sitting in last place in the AL Central. At 23–44, the White Sox have struggled most of the season — particularly on the road, where they’re just 7–26. Still, they've now won four of their last five games and will hand the ball to Sean Burke (3-6, 4.03 ERA), a righty who’s shown flashes of command and competitiveness in his rookie campaign.
The Astros will once again lean on their veterans to lead the way at the plate. Jose Altuve continues to be a consistent presence at the top of the lineup with nine home runs and 24 RBIs on the year. Yainer Diaz, who’s 10-for-39 with three home runs over his last 10 games, has started to find his swing again and could be a factor in the middle of the order. Houston will need more of that timely hitting if they want to avoid dropping their second straight at home — something that hasn’t happened often this year.
On the other side, Chase Meidroth has quietly become one of Chicago’s more reliable bats. Hitting .293 with five doubles and a pair of homers, Meidroth’s emergence adds some much-needed spark to a lineup that’s lacked consistency. Andrew Benintendi, hitting .257 over his last 10 games with four doubles, has also begun to warm up at the plate.
Both teams come in with nearly identical offensive production over their last 10 games — the Astros hitting .227 to the White Sox’s .226 — but Houston holds the edge in ERA at 3.44 compared to Chicago’s 4.04. That said, the Astros have been outscored by five runs over that stretch, and will need to clean up a few things on both sides of the ball to avoid falling into a mini-slide during this six-game homestand.
First pitch is set for 8:10 p.m. ET from Daikin Park, with Houston looking to reassert itself against a team it hasn’t solved yet this season. A win would not only even the series — it would also be a reminder that the Astros remain very much in control of their own narrative heading into the summer grind.
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Astros -181, White Sox +150; over/under is 8 1/2 runs.
Here's an early look at Houston's lineup for Game 2
Wednesday night matchup.
⚾️: 7:10 PM
🏟️: Closed
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— Houston Astros (@astros) June 11, 2025
Jacob Melton is hitting last and remains the left fielder with Altuve back at second base. Diaz is once again in the cleanup spot as Walker is hitting fifth. Victor Caratini will hit behind Walker and serve as the DH. Otherwise, a pretty typical lineup for Joe Espada's club.
*ChatGPT assisted.
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