NBA Finals are proving Rockets would be foolish to abandon defensive identity

The Houston Rockets are watching this year’s NBA Finals from the sidelines, but Rafael Stone and the rest of the team’s front office should be learning a critical lesson from both the Spurs and the Knicks: defense still wins championships.

Of course, there needs to be enough offensive balance to propel a stellar defense to victory, but defense-first teams can still find success on the NBA’s biggest stage. Game 1 of the Finals was a 105-95 slugfest. Both San Antonio and New York were top-four teams in their conference in defensive rating during the regular season. These teams were designed with a defense-first approach.

That should make Houston Rockets fans feel optimistic. The Rockets were also built with a defense-first approach.

Houston already has the defensive foundation

Amen Thompson is the representation of that identity. At 23 years old, Thompson has already made an All-Defense First Team and has multiple top-10 finishes in Defensive Player of the Year voting. With his speed, strength and athleticism, he can guard just about any player on the floor. He is the type of player Houston can build a championship-level defense around.

Ime Udoka is also one of the best defensive head coaches in the NBA. Udoka has legitimate questions to answer when it comes to coaching an effective offense, and that will need to be addressed before Houston is ready to compete with the Spurs or Knicks. However, Udoka has consistently coached some of the best defensive teams in the league for a reason.

If Houston can continue to establish its defensive culture and identity, then that gives the Rockets a way to beat teams that rely too heavily on a single offensive superstar, like the Lakers or the Thunder. That is how the Spurs were able to upset Oklahoma City, and that is how the Knicks steamrolled the Eastern Conference.

The Rockets cannot lose what makes them dangerous

Houston’s offense is nowhere near championship-level, but the Rockets do not need to become an offensive juggernaut to win at the highest level. Game 1 of the Finals showed that games can still be won by scoring in the low 100s, as long as a team has the defensive toughness to control the game.

Houston’s path to a championship involves leaning into what already makes this roster special. Thompson gives the Rockets a unique defensive presence, and Udoka gives them a coach capable of building an elite defense around him. If Houston can add just enough offense without losing that identity, this core can absolutely contend with San Antonio, New York or anyone else.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow