4 Successful teams the Rockets could try to model themselves after

It's been said that imitation is the highest form of flattery. Still, some stalwart fans won't want the Houston Rockets to emulate anyone.

We understand. The Rockets should forge their own path. This team needs to find its own identity. In theory, that all sounds wonderful.

In practice, the NBA is a copycat league. More broadly, basketball is not advanced nuclear physics. There are countless successful blueprints available to a general manager.

We're not saying the Rockets should directly copy anyone. What we're saying is that they could take a page or two out of a few books that have proven to be successful.

Here are four teams that recently found success that we think the Rockets could learn from.

2022-23 Miami Heat

We've shared concerns about the spacing between Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson. In today's NBA, building around two non-shooters is a difficult task.

The 2022-23 Heat (kind of) accomplished it.

Granted, Jimmy Butler shot 35.0% from distance - but he only attempted 1.6 threes per game. That might be an ambitious target for Thompson, but it's worth noting that the Heat did manage to build a Finals-worthy offense around two low-volume three-point shooters.

After all, Sengun is already a far better shooter than Bam Adebayo. The Heat offset those limitations by surrounding their star duo with elite shooters. With Reed Sheppard on the roster, the Rockets may have already set one foot down that path.

Granted, Adebayo's calling card is his defensive versatility. Sengun doesn't share that strength, but he's an even more advanced playmaker. If Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason can improve their shooting, the Rockets could build their defense around them and Thompson, and their offense around Thompson, Sengun, and Sheppard.

From there, they could start looking at the sets that Miami ran to advance to the Finals in 2022-23. Their roster construction would be similar enough to benefit from a little bit of plagiarism.

2022-23 Denver Nuggets

Why the Heat? Wouldn't it be better to learn from the team that beat them?

Well, we thought the Heat comparison was novel. By contrast, this comparison is obvious. Any Rockets fan is harboring some hope that Sengun will make good on his comparisons to Nikola Jokic.

Yes, that's a lofty expectation. Still, the Rockets can approximate the Nuggets even if Sengun is never a perennial MVP candidate. They'd simply need one of Jalen Green or Reed Sheppard to surpass Jamal Murray.

That leaves Amen Thompson in the Aaron Gordon role. That's another imperfect comparison. Gordon shot 34.7% on 2.5 threes per game during this season. If Thompson ever hits that level of shooting, the Rockets will be looking to copy LeBron James teams instead of the Nuggets.

So, his role would look similar, but different. Thompson can meet - or even surpass - Gordon as a do-it-all defender. Offensively, he'd operate similarly as a cutter but may opt to put the ball on the floor and make a play instead of shooting. If Sengun's shooting develops, that should be conducive to a high-level offense.

2021-22 Memphis Grizzlies

The Rockets already have a couple of the pieces that made this team tick. With Steven Adams and Dillon Brooks on the roster, Houston could look to recreate this 56-win squad.

More importantly, they've got a pair of guards that share similarities with Ja Morant. Granted, Morant is a better shooter than Amen Thompson, and he's got vastly superior floor vision than Jalen Green. On the other hand, Thompson is 6'7", and if Green can find some consistency beyond the arch, he should be a better three-level scorer than Morant.

The broader idea is that Adams uses screens to create space for downhill guards masterfully. Meanwhile, the Rockets have their Jaren Jackson Jr. analog in Jabari Smith Jr. He may never be as impactful of a weakside shot blocker, but he could be more switchable if he continues to improve.

Otherwise, Reed Sheppard would play the role of Desmond Bane. This team has the potential to look a lot like this Memphis squad - although, there's no room for Sengun in this model. How about our next - and most ambitious of all - comparison?

2014-15 Golden State Warriors

No, we're not suggesting that the Rockets are an imminent dynasty. Why not look for this generation's greatest dynasty for some pointers?

Besides - the framework is there. Sheppard is arguably the best shooter to come into the NBA since - you guessed it - Steph Curry. Moreover, Thompson should have the floor vision and defensive acumen to play the role of Draymond Green. Sheppard could bend the geometry of the floor like Curry, and Thompson could exploit that by finding cutters from the high post like Green.

Is there a space for Sengun? We're not sure. The Warriors did lend some extra playmaking reps to Andrew Bogut, but he was mainly a defensive presence. If the offense is potent enough when Sengun rests, the Rockets could opt to run it through Sheppard and Thompson in a Warriors-esque motion system full-time.

Unfortunately, there's certainly no space for Green here unless he vastly improves his shooting. The Warriors manipulated the floor by running two elite shooters in their backcourt. Sheppard would need to find his Thompson:

Unless the Rockets come up with something altogether new.