Rockets offseason targets will be guided by exposed playoff warts

The Houston Rockets had to fight to get where they are.

That's almost literally true. Few teams (if any) had as many dustups as the Rockets this year. Still, I'm not talking about fisticuffs.

The Rockets had to play a uniquely physical brand of basketball to earn the Western Conference's second seed. They're one of the best defensive teams in the NBA. They've been the best rebounding team in the league for most of the season. What's the problem?

How about scoring?

The Rockets struggle to put points on the board. Their 114.9 Offensive Rating ranks 12th in the NBA this year, but it owes a lot to offensive rebounding. Time will tell whether that's a viable strategy in the postseason.

Typically, the playoffs call for a reliable shot creator. The Rockets aren't sure if they have one.

One NBA insider thinks that what they discover in this year's postseason could dictate their offseason.

NBA insider makes bold Rockets prediction

"Even if they win (this series) and lose in round two, I think no matter what, the story about Houston this offseason will be 'how do you add more scoring'"

-Kevin O'Connor, Yahoo Sports

Frankly, he's not wrong.

If the Rockets make a Cinderella conference finals run, they may not look to change anything. Let's assume that doesn't happen. If the Rockets (as is overwhelmingly likely) lose in one of the first two rounds, the culprit will be poor halfcourt offense. They'll have to add scoring.

Where will they add it?

Rockets should let the playoffs dictate decisions

It depends on what happens in the postseason.

Is Jalen Green a playoff riser? If so, he could be deemed untouchable. By contrast, if he falters, he'll be a prime trade candidate. Green had a decent 2024-25 season, but he remains inconsistent. The Rockets could decide that they've grown tired of waiting for him to string together good performances.

That said, Alperen Sengun isn't likely untouchable yet either. His playoff performance could count for a lot. There have been concerns about his defensive viability in the playoffs. If Sengun is exposed on that end, he'll have to make up the difference tremendously on offense if he doesn't want to be viewed as a potential trade candidate.

Amen Thompson is likely safe. The Rockets know his value comes on defense first anyway. Given how elite he is on that end of the floor, they're more likely to pair him with scorers.

That said, smaller, incremental upgrades could look more desirable. The Rockets could simply look to add a sparkplug guard. They could even wait to see if Cam Whitmore is a more reliable option in 2025-26. These playoffs could tell us a lot about the team's future:

For now, look for the Rockets to keep fighting.