Bleacher Report writers know nothing about Rockets basketball -- and that's ok

Have you ever been left scratching your head after reading a Bleacher Report post about the Houston Rockets?

Well, that just happened to me.

And it’s not the first time, unfortunately. What I’ve realized is that the site doesn’t seem to know much about Houston Rockets basketball.

Which is why they repeatedly propose lofty, delusional trades. That’s not what they did this time, however.

Writer Greg Swartz devised an article titled ‘1 Tough Question for Every NBA Franchise’ and his question for the Rockets was “Will the desire to win compromise the team’s growth.”

This seems like a sensible question on the surface but let’s peel the layers back a bit.

Bleacher Report's tough question for Rockets is an easy one

The Rockets’ only chance of winning or even coming remotely close to winning will hinge on whether their young core takes a significant leap. And they know that.

As does anyone who follows the team. Sure, they spent big on Dillon Brooks and Fred VanVleet in free agency this offseason but those players weren’t brought in to impede the growth of their young core, but rather to provide a cultural reset that will foster that growth by teaching them winning habits that will bring out the best in them.

Ditto for Ime Udoka, who was brought in to provide structure.

Take a look at what Swartz says below:
“The Rockets understandably want to become more competitive after possessing the worst record in the West over the last three seasons.

Spending big on Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks essentially guarantees both major roles, but Houston can't forget what's truly important here. Making sure the young stars on this roster, players like Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Şengün, continue to develop needs to be priority No. 1. Amen Thompson, Kevin Porter Jr., Cam Whitmore and Tari Eason all need rotation roles as well.

Does new head coach Ime Udoka play VanVleet and Brooks 35-plus minutes a night trying to chase a play-in spot in a loaded West? Does Brooks think he has the green light on offense jumping from the Memphis Grizzlies to a young Houston team now?

Being bad for one more year isn't the worst thing, as the Rockets owe a top-four protected first-round pick in 2024 to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Highlighting the incredible amount of young talent in Houston is the most important part of the 2023-24 season.”

Again, the Rockets will only take a leap if Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., and Alperen Sengun improve significantly. Not to say that they don’t have the potential to become good players, but more so that it’s time to unleash that potential.

That’s the only chance the team will have of securing a play-in berth. Not to mention making the playoffs.

Again, the Rockets know this.

And anyone who keeps up with the team should know this as well.