Rockets season frighteningly depends on one hidden Alperen Sengun skill

As the Houston Rockets look to mount a deep playoff run this season with their addition of superstar-caliber scorer Kevin Durant, virtually every member of the team's budding young core will need to make a leap for this dream to become a reality.

Yet, the most important of these players will undoubtedly be star center Alperen Sengun, and his ability to continue to improve in his weakest area, his shooting from beyond the arc, will be pivotal in the team's ability to put forward a viable offensive front.

While Sengun's value is primarily conveyed as a scorer in the paint and a capable defender on the other end of the floor, his ability to expand his offensive game could make Houston a serious threat this season.

The Rockets' offensive ceiling will, in part, be determined by Sengun's perimeter shot

As Sengun developed his footwork and finishing ability through his first four seasons in the league, the singular knock on his game remained his inconsistent shooting from the mid-range and the perimeter.

Even last season, as Sengun got his first nod to the All-Star Game and his first taste of national recognition as one of the NBA's elite centers, he still struggled in this area of his game. While he shot 67.7% at the rim, he shot just 34.6% from three feet and further, even knocking down a career-low 23.3% of his 3-point shots.

This issue intensified their lack of genuine floor spacers, and, while Durant's addition provides them with one of the most lethal perimeter scorers in the game, this problem has clearly persisted into this season.

Yet, in the team's first game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Sengun's excellent performance this offseason in the EuroBasket Tournament seemed to convey over into NBA play. He went 5-of-8 from beyond the arc of the night, getting into his jumper confidently and seeming willing to take shots from any area of the court.

In the team's second game against the Detroit Pistons, however, Sengun took just two attempts from 3-point range on the night, missing both and scoring just 17 points total in a game that contrasted starkly with his monstrous performance against the Thunder.

Sengun, likely, will never be the bona-fide stretch center that the Rockets desperately need, and the team cannot expect him to be. However, he must continue to shoot confidently from beyond the arc, remaining just viable enough of a threat to help spread out opposing defenses.

With the lack of spacing that Houston has across their starting lineup, this will be integral to their ability to perform at a high level offensively.

Therefore, while Sengun is certain to have some poor shooting nights, he can no longer disappear entirely into his post game, sacrificing the key skill that will help keep the team's offense afloat in the absence of starting point guard Fred VanVleet.