Rival head coach has high praise for the Houston Rockets

It's been a storybook season for the 2024-25 Houston Rockets.

They're 14-6. Yes, Rockets fans were expecting growth. They had faith in their team. If anyone tells you they were expecting this, treat them with skepticism. This team is far exceeding expectations by any measure.

In particular, the Rockets' defense is carrying the day. The team's Defensive Rating of 103.7 trails only the Thunder leaguewide. That's a reflection of Ime Udoka. He's instilled in this group a toughness that has them competing on both ends every night.

One of Udoka's peers just recognized his accomplishments.

Rival head coach gives Rockets high praise

"They're the best team we've seen so far this year"

-Nick Nurse, Philadelphia 76ers Head Coach

Those words should not be taken lightly. Udoka and Nurse are competitors. He wouldn't say this if it didn't resonate with him.

That said, he may have some ulterior motives.

Nurse would go on to concede some bias. He coached Fred VanVleet in Toronto. Evidently, there are still some ties there.

More broadly, Nurse is notoriously defensive-minded. This is the man who employed the box-and-one to contain Giannis Antetokounmpo in the Eastern Conference Finals. If any coach in the NBA appreciates defense as much as Udoka, it's Nurse.

Should we take what he's saying seriously?

Rockets among the league's elite

The Rockets have the league's second-best Defensive Rating. They also have the league's fourth-best Net Rating at 8.4. They're among the league's best.

Granted, fourth is not first. Still, two of the teams ahead of the Rockets play in a decidedly weaker Eastern Conference. The Cavaliers and Celtics have had weaker schedules than the Rockets.

That still leaves the Thunder. Isn't it always the Thunder? The Rockets have the best young core in the West - besides the Thunder. They've got the most draft capital in the conference...

You get the picture.

Look. The Rockets aren't the best team in the NBA. That designation belongs to the reigning champion Celtics or the Thunder. The Cavaliers have a case as well.

It should be seen as a tremendous accomplishment for the Rockets to even be in this conversation. Credit Rafael Stone for putting this group together.

Credit Ime Udoka as well.

He's revolutionized this group of young players. The Rockets have taken on their coach's identity. Udoka is the Rockets' leader. Under his stewardship, they're rapidly ascending the NBA's ranks.

Finally, credit the Rockets. Alperen Sengun is a star. Amen Thompson is already one of the NBA's best defenders. This team is on the rise. They may not be the league's best now, but that suddenly feels like a viable long-term goal for them:

Just ask Nick Nurse.