The Houston Rockets must add shooting this summer

The Houston Rockets have fallen on tough times.

Every win these days feels like an uphill battle, and losses are beginning to feel like the norm. It may be that the Rockets are suffering fatigue from playing a particularly effortful brand of basketball throughout the year.

They should not complain to Pelicans fans.

It's been as difficult a season as imaginable in the Big Easy. The Pelicans have dealt with countless injuries.

Last night, they gave the Rockets a fight anyway.

Rockets narrowly escape Pelicans

The score says otherwise. The Rockets managed a 109-97 victory over New Orleans. If you didn't want this one, you might think it was a cakewalk.

It was not. The Rockets were down by double digits in the first half. The Rockets rallied behind an electrifying dunk from Amen Thompson, and returned to form in the second half.

Speaking of Thompson, he had an excellent game with 21 points and 11 rebounds on 10/13 shooting from the field. His Terror Twin Tari Eason also delivered. He finished with 20 points on 7/14 shooting from the field, 4/8 shooting from long-range and 5 steals.

So, the Twins carried the day. The Rockets won this game with frenetic energy and extra effort.

Is that sustainable?

Offensive issues plague the Rockets

No.

The Rockets' 73.9% free throw shooting is dead last in the NBA. Their 34.3% three-point shooting ranks 27th.

In today's NBA, you can't win if you can't shoot.

It's hard to pinpoint the solution - in the short-term, at least. Ime Udoka has been leaning on Steven Adams/Alperen Sengun double big lineups. The idea is to bludgeon opponents with rebounding and physicality in the absence of a functional offense.

That's fine for now, but it's a limited strategy. This team's offensive deficiencies are likely to hold as long as they're one of the worst shooting teams in the NBA.

How can they fix that?

Rockets need changes this summer

This is not to say that the Rockets need to make a blockbuster trade - although, it should be an option.

They could add shooting at the margins. Drafting a shooter could be step one. Acquiring a low-cost veteran with three-point gravity could be step two. Along with some internal improvement, that could be enough.

That said...

If this front office feels like this core just does not have enough collective shooting, that would be justifiable. That could mean trading anyone on this roster. For the Rockets to become legitimate title contenders, they need to fix their shooting.

Until then, we're celebrating late season wins over one of the worst teams in the league.