2 Troubling stats highlight area of improvement for Rockets

The Houston Rockets play a specific brand of basketball.

It isn't pretty. It is smashmouth basketball. The Rockets bludgeon opponents with offensive rebounding and defense. That's their identity, and they seem to be sticking to it.

To an extent, it's been successful in 2024-25. At 37-23, the Rockets hold the fifth seed in the Western Conference.

Did some fans want more? Inevitably. A long stretch of holding the NBA's second seed created some lofty expectations. Let's dial those back.

Any season that sees a team in the Rockets' position (young with excess assets) increase their win total should be seen as successful. The Rockets are 4 games away from exceeding 2023-24's 41-win total. This is a team on the rise:

But if they want to continue ascending, they need to work on this critical weakness.

Rockets need to improve in key area

That weakness is, simply put, passing the basketball.

The Rockets rank dead last in the NBA in 2-point field goal assist percentage (44.%). They're 26th in 3-point field goal assist percentage (78.9%). Nobody needs to be a professional statistician to see that this is problematic.

Yes, the Rockets' tough, hard-working identity will bring them success. Winning the possession battle by controlling the offensive glass and defending harder than anyone else will win them games for years to come.

It's not enough to accomplish their largest goals. The Rockets need to reinvent their offensive approach if they're going to legitimately compete for the NBA title.

How can they do that?

Rockets need to make changes

There are at least two ways they could increase their win percentage. One involves increasing a player's usage, and the other involves changing another's. The first player is Amen Thompson. He's fourth on the Rockets in Assist Percentage (15.7%) but 8th in Usage Percentage (17.3%).

Thompson's passing vision was a major selling point for him as a prospect. There's been much discussion about whether he's a point guard or a wing. The Rockets don't need to put the ball in his hands on a full-time basis, but giving him more on-ball reps could help the Rockets start moving the ball more effectively.

The second change pertains to Alperen Sengun's usage. This is a case I've made before. Sengun needs to post up more often, and operate in the pick-and-roll less frequently.

As a roll man, his passing options are more limited. Sengun can make short roll plays, but they aren't always available. Putting him on the low block allows the Rockets to design schemes that maximize his options.

This would force the team - and Sengun - to make some improvements. Sengun needs to be quicker to make passing reads when he draws a double team, and the rest of the Rockets need to be more active in their off-ball movement to make themselves available. These changes, along with more usage for Thompson, could revolutionize this team's offense.

If they keep beating their opponents up in the process, who knows how far they may go?