Rockets have problem that could end their championship dreams according to NBA legend

As the Houston Rockets attempt to put together a run at a championship this year, they will depend heavily on the rapid development of both Amen Thompson and second-year guard Reed Sheppard in the absence of starting point guard Fred VanVleet.

However, while much speculation has been given to the ceiling these players can reach given their new roles, NBA legend Jeff Teague has serious doubt about their ability to do so, and he believes that VanVleet's injury may have already ended their title hopes before they have begun.

While Houston does have the benefit of a superstar scorer in Kevin Durant and are poised to yet again put forward one of the most intense defensive fronts in the league, their season ultimately hinges on Thompson's ability to become a more-than-capable facilitator: a gamble that the Rockets are forced to make.

Jeff Teague believes that this roster might not be championship-ready without Fred VanVleet

VanVleet's injury, undoubtedly, presents a major, major blow to Houston's offense. Throughout the past couple of seasons, although his production a dip, VanVleet's playmaking capabilities have been the glue that has held this team together. Now, without him, they must turn to players such as Thompson and Alperen Sengun to take on this offensive workload.

Yet, both of these players are exceedingly young by NBA standards, and, as Teague points out, there is always the chance that they are not yet equipped to lead a team to a championship: "Sengun can play, he can hoop, but I don’t think he can make it easier for Kevin Durant, like take pressure off. Thompson twin can’t shoot, and I’m a fan of him. He can get to the basket, he can create and things like that, but I don’t know if they’re there right now."

Last season, the Rockets' offense depended almost entirely upon Sengun's dominance in the paint, and, although he emerged as a bona-fide star and earned his first nod to the All-Star Game, his inability to overcome defensive pressure in crunch time is ultimately what led to the team's playoff demise last season.

Moreover, although Thompson has shown an ability to make the right passes throughout his career, averaging 4.3 assists per 36 minutes on the court last season, he will now need to deal with an entirely different degree of defensive attention at the point-of-attack, and he will be largely responsible for getting the ball to players like Durant and Sengun in their spots.

Even if both of these players were to take the necessary steps to make the Rockets as dangerous as they would have been with VanVleet in the lineup, there is still one major hurdle that stands in their way: the sheer talent present in the Western Conference.

Teams such as the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Denver Nuggets present formidable challenges in a seven-game playoff series, and there is little to no chance that any team could make a Finals run without facing one or both of them.

What ended Houston's championship hopes last season was their lack of veteran experience, and, even with Durant on the roster, Teague believes this same problem is what will plague them this season.