Rockets have an unexpected defensive problem that could define their season

As the Houston Rockets defeated the Toronto Raptors, 139-121, the team finally looked to be firing on all cylinders offensively, with all three of Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr. having excellent nights on that end of the floor.

Yet, an emerging defensive problem also reared its ugly head: the Rockets' inability to consistently put up good contests against opponents' 3-point attempts.

While Houston's numbers so far this season don't reflect much change from last year as far as opposing teams' shooting from beyond the arc, the past two games have revealed that this could be a serious weakness for them this season.

The Rockets need to do a better job actively contesting opponent's 3-point shots

Last season, as the Rockets climbed to the second seed in the Western Conference, they did so on the shoulders of their burgeoning defensive identity, keeping teams on their toes game in and game out throughout the course of the entire season.

This season, however, as the team has attempted to adjust to life with Durant and without starting point guard Fred VanVleet, the defense has lagged behind somewhat, allowing an unsustainable number of easy looks to teams that have no business establishing that sort of cohesion against them.

Although they beat the Brooklyn Nets 137-109, they allowed them to shoot 11-of-26 from 3-point range in the first half, failing to contest a number of shots and allowing the Nets to stay in the game just a bit longer than they probably should have.

Against the Toronto Raptors, however, this problem intensified. The Raptors shot 52.5% from beyond the arc on the night, with Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes knocking down nine 3-pointers between them. This allowed the Raptors to stay in the game well into the fourth quarter, when Durant hit a dagger three to send them home.

While part of this can be blamed on the zone defense that the team is forced to run when both Sengun and Steven Adams are on the court, the Rockets also ran a healthy swathe of man against Toronto.

Don't get it wrong; the Rockets won both of these games in dominant fashion, and there should be a tinge of optimism as they continue to improve offensively.

However, in the modern NBA, allowing teams to beat you with ease at the 3-point line is a recipe for disaster, and, as Houston continues to sort out its new defensive scheme, there needs to be an emphasis on consistently putting up good shot contests in order to limit their liability in that area of the floor.