Rockets still have a saving grace after devastating start

The Houston Rockets are 0-2. It's been brutal, but there's no reason to panic.

There's every reason to respond. Let's be clear about that. The Rockets need to do something. Their current level of play is unacceptable.

That said, it's a long season. These are just two games.

Besides, there have been reasons for optimism even in two losses.

Rockets have a starting point for success

Kevin Durant hasn't aged out of his prime yet. That's something.

Through two games, the future Hall of Famer is averaging 30.0 points and 6.0 rebounds with a blistering 67.3 True Shooting % (TS%). That's a minute sample size, but it proves that Durant hasn't lost a step. He's still one of the most potent scorers in the NBA.

Alperen Sengun's play has been mostly outstanding as well. He's averaging 28.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game. His 54.6 TS% is uninspiring, but the sample size does come into effect there. Sengun was scorching in his first game, and struggled in the Rockets' most recent one.

Speaking of that first game, it was a double overtime loss to the best team in the NBA. The Rockets wanted to beat the Pistons, but any team in the NBA can beat any other on any given night, and the Pistons aren't pushovers. The Rockets can still easily turn this season around:

But they need the rest of the team to catch up with their star duo.

Rockets need to make strides to start winning

Amen Thompson has been unequivocally disappointing thus far. He looks overtaxed trying to play point guard. The Rockets may want to deploy him as more of a connective passer, as they have for the last two years.

Tari Eason can't buy a bucket. It feels like his failed extension negotiations are clouding his floor vision. He needs to start playing in the flow of the game and getting back to being the dominant wing defender he's been.

Jabari Smith Jr. is shooting 7.5 threes per game, but he's only hitting 33.3% of them. Hopefully, that's a small sample problem as well. The Rockets need Smith Jr. to have a career-best year from deep with such limited floor spacing on the roster.

The broader point is this: Durant and Sengun have been outstanding, but they need help. Depth was supposed to be a strength for the Rockets in 2025-26. If they're a two-man show, they won't get far:

It could end up being a brutal season.