COUNTDOWN TO LIFTOFF
How Houston Rockets' young core and new additions can fuel a playoff return
Oct 15, 2024, 11:22 am
COUNTDOWN TO LIFTOFF
Last season: 41-41.
COACH: Ime Udoka (Second season with Rockets, third season overall, 92-72).
SEASON OPENER: Oct. 25 vs. Charlotte.
DEPARTURES: C Boban Marjanovic, SF Reggie Bullock.
ADDITIONS: G Reed Sheppard, F Thon Maker.
BetMGM championship odds: 80-1.
After making a 19-game improvement in the first season under Udoka, the Rockets have adopted a playoffs-or-bust mantra this season. They have reason to believe that could happen with a team that is virtually unchanged from last season. The additions of Dillon Brooks and Fred Van Vleet before last season added much-needed veteran experience and leadership to help Houston’s young players develop. Now recent high draft picks Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson must all take a step forward for the Rockets to reach the postseason for the first time since James Harden led the team in 2020.
The good: The Rockets return their entire starting lineup from last season and should be improved in the second year together. Van Vleet and Brooks meshed immediately with their new teammates last season to help the Rockets get out the NBA’s basement and inch closer to a return to the postseason. Defense should again be a strength of the team after the Rockets ranked ninth on defense in their first season under Udoka. Center Alperen Sengun returns after making a big jump last season in his third year in the league. He led the team with career highs in both points (21.1) and rebounds (9.3) before an ankle injury cost him the last 19 games of the season.
The not-so-good: Green, the second overall pick in 2021, has shown flashes of greatness in his first three seasons but has mostly been known for his inconsistency. Entering the last year of his rookie deal, the 22-year-old must improve and become more of a leader on this team, or it could be his last year with the Rockets. Amen Thompson, taken fourth in the 2023 draft, had a lackluster rookie season where he missed 20 games with injuries to put him behind Houston’s other young stars. He’ll have to play catch up this year if he hopes to get significant playing time after the Rockets added Sheppard in this draft.
Many around the league are eager to see how Sheppard’s elite shooting in his one season at Kentucky will translate to the NBA. Though undersized, the Rockets believe that his 3-point shooting will be a major asset to this team as it tries to make another jump this season. Sheppard, selected third in the draft, shot 52.1% from 3-point range and made 83.1% of his free throws last season. The addition of his shooting and more consistent play from Green could be the recipe the Rockets need to make a playoff push.
L.J. Cryer scored 14 points, Milos Uzan added 12 points and six assists, and No. 6 Houston beat Baylor 76-65 on Monday night for its third straight victory.
Terrance Arceneaux had 11 points and J’Wan Roberts scored 10 for Houston (20-4, 12-1 Big 12). Emanuel Sharp also finished with 10 after missing two games with an ankle injury.
The Cougars shot 51% and went 10 of 24 on 3-pointers. They reached 20 wins for the 10th consecutive season.
Norchad Omier scored 19 points and Langston Love added 15 for Baylor (15-9, 7-6), which shot 58% — including 9 of 15 on 3s. VJ Edgecombe had 14 points and Robert Wright III finished with 10.
Baylor lost its third straight road game and fell to 0-4 against ranked opponents in true road games this season.
Baylor: The Bears missed an opportunity to add a marquee win and fell to 4-8 in Quad 1 games. Baylor’s lack of depth came into play as Houston outscored the Bears’ bench 24-1, and three starters played at least 35 minutes.
Houston: The Cougars improved to 5-3 in Quad 1 games and remained atop the Big 12 standings.
Uzan hit a 3-pointer that sparked a 10-1 run and gave the Cougars a 26-16 lead with 7:53 remaining in the first half. Houston’s lead never dipped below six the rest of the way.
Houston, which entered forcing more than 14 turnovers per game and ranking in the top 10 nationally with a 5.2 turnover margin, forced Baylor into 15 turnovers and converted them into 28 points.
Houston visits No. 13 Arizona on Saturday, while Baylor hosts West Virginia the same day.