Evaluating the Houston Rockets' Season Halfway Through

With the season a little more than halfway done, the Rockets' prospects are seemingly bright. They currently hold a 29-14 record, which is far superior to their 20-22 record at this point last season. When looking at their collective growth as a unit, there is a myriad of factors to consider.

1. The Metamorphosis of Amen Thompson and Tari Eason into "The Terror Twins"

Amen Thompson's rookie season was reminiscent of Reed Sheppard's current season in that he was added to a team undergoing a multifaceted transformation. Along with the acquisition of veteran players Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks, it was accompanied by the beginning of Ime Udoka's stint as the head coach. This, coupled with Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green's efforts to find their respective niches on a new team, deprived Thompson of a typical rookie season.

With the immense amount of talent in the Rockets' rotation, the onus fell on Thompson to prove himself as worthy of extensive minutes. Though his playstyle was not as refined, he showed great potential, particularly in his defense and rebounding. In just 22.4 minutes per game, Thompson averaged 9.5 ppg, 6.6 rpg, and 1.3 spg.

Tari Eason, who was then a sophomore, similarly showed glimpses as both a defender and rebounder, averaging 9.8 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.4 spg, and .9 bpg. Unfortunately, just as he was turning the tide, he suffered a season-ending injury.

Fast forward to now, and both of their skillsets have come to fruition in a formidable manner. They have garnered a reputation as domineering shot blockers and ball thieves, which has culminated in their nickname "The Terror Twins." The havoc that both Eason and Thompson have wreaked on the defensive end this year (averaging 3.0 and 2.5 STOCKS respectively) has done wonders for the Rockets overall as they are the 3rd best defense in the league.

Both players' excellence isn't limited to their defense either. Thompson's freak athleticism has facilitated his improvement as a finisher and rebounder, averaging 16.9 ppg, 10.3 rpg, and 3.9 STOCKS as a starter. Eason has also been a good role player offensively, bringing good consistent three-point shooting and paint scoring.

2. Alperen Sengun's Sustained Excellence

Last season, Alperen Sengun burst onto the scene as one of the league's premier centers. He flourished under Ime Udoka's system, averaging 21.1 ppg, 9.3 rpg, and 5.0 apg on 53.7 FG%. His post-play and effectiveness in P&R was the engine for the Rockets' offense and allowed them to finish with a .500 record.

Though some have voiced concerns about his touch in the paint disappearing, Sengun has more or less maintained his level of play. Despite averaging less points (with 19.2 ppg), he has improved in other categories, posting 10.5 rpg and 5.0 apg. He has also made a considerable leap defensively. This was on display just recently in his defensive virtuoso against the Kings.

3. Jalen Green's Heater

Jalen Green's tenure with the Rockets has been nothing short of an enigma. His ability to transform overnight from a liability into one of the best players in the league has been a subject of polarization amongst the Rockets' fanbase. Whereas some have asserted that the Rockets should give him time, others believe the team would be better off trading him.

Recently, Green has mustered up a stretch of games that may vindicate the former cohort. In 10 games prior to Houston's win over Cleveland, Green has been averaging 28.7 ppg on 51.2/47.2/90.7 shooting splits. His play has landed him the Western Conference Player of the Week and even placed him in historic company with the sport's all-time greats. This stretch has been conducive to the Rockets' success as well, as they won 7 of these 10 games.

It should go without saying that this extreme efficiency is unsustainable. However,the nature of Green's play suggests that when he does come back to earth, he could still be stellar. If Green continues to play this well or even 2/3s as well, it could have positive implications for the Rockets.

The Rockets' Potential in the Postseason

The Rockets are an undeniably deep squad. Aside from the notable play of those mentioned above, players such as Dillon Brooks, Jabari Smith Jr., and Cam Whitmore also contribute on a nightly basis. The manner in which they managed to stay afloat in the absence of Smith Jr. and Eason is symbolic of this depth and their grit (both essential tools for playoff success).

With that being said, the Rockets still have two glaring flaws: their offense and their inexperience.

The Rockets are a relatively average team offensively, with the 12th best offensive rating and susceptibility to offensive spells. As seen in the NBA Cup, top dogs such as the Thunder can easily exploit this offensive inconsistency.

Secondly, a bulk of the team's most ambitious players have no playoff experience whatsoever. When playing against teams such as the Mavericks and the Nuggets, the Rockets would be at a clear disadvantage. Irrespective of their teams' inferior records, players such as Jokic, Luka, and Kyrie are "battle tested" and have playoff DNA which the current version of the Rockets mostly lack.

A plausible counterweight to this inexperience could be the leadership of veterans Dillon Brooks and Fred VanVleet. Having won a championship before, VanVleet knows what it takes. However, this season has amplified his worst qualities such as shot selection and inefficiency, while minimizing his best qualities such as passing and 3-point shooting. If the Rockets hope to make a serious run, they will need him to be better.

Taking both their strengths and flaws into consideration, the Rockets could undoubtedly make some noise in the playoffs. They could fair well in several prospective matchups. It seems like they have the Grizzlies and Clippers' numbers, currently having a 3-0 record against each of them. The Lakers, though in the playoff picture, per usual are plagued with dysfunction and have an inhibited roster around LeBron and AD.

My personal assessment is that they are currently a year away from contending and will be competitive semi-finalists this year.