3 Lessons from the Houston Rockets' recent struggles

It is no secret that the Houston Rockets have not been dishing out the best product on the floor recently. In the 9 games before the All-Star break, they have gone an abysmal 2-7, even going on a 6 game losing streak in this stretch. While some of this can be chalked up to the lingering injuries in their rotation, it is certainly not what fans would expect from a team that was once the West's 2nd seed.

This rough stretch has revealed several things about the Rockets that could have drastic implications in the long term.

1. Fred VanVleet is Crucial to the Rockets' Success

Amongst Rockets' fans, VanVleet has received a barrage of criticism for his play this year. Justifiably so. His often inefficient play combined with his questionable shot selection has made for many infuriating watches. With that being said, the Rockets' lackluster performance in his absence has somewhat vindicated him.

VanVleet, in spite of his regression from last season, has still been solid in running the offense and serving as a floor general. In his absence, the Rockets have been far more susceptible to stretches of stagnant offense. Though Amen Thompson has been frequently suggested as the guard who would be our "future PG1," his temporary niche in that position has not been as conducive to the Rockets' success.

The Rockets, averaging 22.7 assists per game, currently rank dead last in the category, an encapsulation of how subpar their ball movement and more generally, their offense has been lately. This segues perfectly into the next revelation from their recent play.

2. The Rockets Could Use an Offensive Coordinator

Since becoming the Rockets' head coach, Ime Udoka has transformed the Rockets from a bottom-of-the-barrel team to a winning team. From the Rockets' .500 record last season to their generally impressive play this season, Ime's stint has truly lifted the team out of the trenches. The main means through which he has accomplished this is through defense. In the 2023-24 and 2024-25 season (so far) respectively, the Rockets ranked 9th and 4th in defensive rating.

The facet where Coach Udoka has, relatively speaking, not excelled would be offense.Irrespective of their improvement on the offensive end, the Rockets are still middle-of-the-road, ranking 14th in offensive rating.

To be clear, this isn't solely Udoka's fault. An offensive scheme can be brilliant but only accomplish so much if players aren't hitting open shots or are missing layups. With that being said, Ime is still culpable, especially when considering the Rockets' recent losses to the Nets. Even when factoring in the Rockets' injuries, two losses to a team which for the most part is uninterested in winning games hints towards a bigger problem.

Ime Udoka is obviously the right head coach for the Rockets. His first two seasons alone have restored joy to a team that was for some time a laughing stock. However, this consistently inconsistent offense is holding the Rockets back, and an offensive coordinator could help unlock the Rockets' full potential. Having varying perspectives among the coaching staff could help the Rockets play a more creative and ultimately, better brand of basketball.

3. The Rockets Need a Superstar Level Talent

Jalen Green, after a historical heater in January, has come back to Earth. We all expected this would happen. However, he's been less consistent than Rockets' fans would like, averaging 21.0 ppg on 40.2/33.3/67.6 splits in the 9 games prior to the All-Star break. The return of this inefficient play from Green is deflating, because it looked like he was really ready to turn the tide this time.

These periodic flashes of brilliance which are followed by slumps seem almost Newtonian at this point. Jalen will likely keep gradually improving, but it's uncertain if these flashes of brilliance will ever culminate in a consistent star player.

The often touted franchise cornerstone, Alperen Sengun, has been out due to injury in numerous games recently. These games have reiterated his significance to the Rockets' success as they are just 1-3 in these games, two of which were losses to the Nets.

At the same time, Sengun more or less maintaining his level of play from last season has suggested him as being more of a optimal second rather than first option on a championship squad. To truly compete, the Rockets need a player among the likes of or close to Shai, Jokic, Luka, and Tatum.

One superstar who the Rockets have been attached to in trade conversations is Kevin Durant. It's easy to see why. Durant would provide the shot creation and consistent scoring engine that the Rockets are currently devoid of. He'd also greatly add to their shooting while fitting seamlessly in Coach Udoka's defensive scheme.

Some critics of a potential trade for Durant have argued that it's not worth breaking up the Rockets young core for an aging 36-year old star. However, a couple of factors are worth acknowledging.

First and foremost, I don't believe that the Rockets down the line would regret trading any of the assets that they do for KD. Amongst the current core, Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun are the only untouchables; losing any of the rest wouldn't come close to the devastation of losing a Harden or Shai-level talent. Admittedly, however, I would prefer Tari Eason stays a Rocket should this trade go down.

Secondly, Durant's game has aged more gracefully than arguably any all time great aside from LeBron. On the latter, Durant also has an advantage as his greatness isn't as reliable on athleticism. Durant, thus far, has showed no signs of slowing down, averaging above 25 ppg for 17 straight years.

Overall, the acquisition of KD should be the Rockets' first priority this offseason. The Suns are a sinking ship, and the Rockets have one of the best possible trade packages to offer. Along with this, the Rockets should look into getting an offensive coordinator.