We’re just over a month away from the start of Houston Rockets training camp. Expectations are at their highest level in four seasons as the Rockets look to make the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
As training camp and the preseason wind down, we should have a clearer idea of what to expect heading into the season. However, if you look at how last season ended and how the team is constructed, a few things stand out.
Here are three predictions for the Houston Rockets next season.
The Rockets have been at the bottom of the league in three-point shooting the past four seasons. Last season’s 23rd-place finish was an “improvement” from last place in 2022-23. The Rockets, heading into the offseason, knew that bringing in shooters had to be a priority.
That’s why the Rockets targeted Reed Sheppard in the 2024 draft. He led the nation in three-point shooting as a freshman at Kentucky, shooting an impressive 52 percent. Sheppard didn’t disappoint in summer league play as he showed range and a quick release.
Add in one of the Rockets’ best screen shooters in Steven Adams, and the Rockets have improved their chances of becoming an average-to-good 3-point shooting team. Also, don’t forget Tari Eason, one of the Rockets’ best 3-point shooters in his rookie season. Eason missed most of last season due to injuries, but will be back for the start of next season.
With returning players and new additions, the Rockets should move from the bottom of the league to the middle of the pack, which would be a huge improvement.
Much like their three-point shooting, the Rockets were near the bottom of nearly every defensive category, and much like their three-point shooting, they improved last season. The Rockets, under Ime Udoka, looked like a different team on defense.
The Rockets allowed five fewer points per game than they did in 2022-23 and finished in the top 10 in defensive rating. Keep in mind that the Rockets were learning a new system with a new coaching staff and two new players in the starting lineup.
In 2024-25, the Rockets have a full year in the Ime Udoka system and another year on the court together. While Jock Landale has played much better in the second half of the season, Adams’ addition as a backup center is an upgrade on the defensive end.
As mentioned earlier, Eason will be ready to go when the season starts and, in addition to being one of the best shooters on the team, he is also one of the best defenders. Add all of these elements together and you have a top-five defensive team next season.
Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta and general manager Rafael Stone made it clear that the Rockets are moving past the first phase of their rebuild during Ime Udoka’s introductory press conference. The Rockets are no longer content with player development, but are looking to move up the standings.
They did it last season, winning 41 games and battling for a play-in spot until the final weeks of the season. The Rockets are hoping to take another step forward and qualify for the playoffs in 2024-25. To do that, they will likely need to improve their win count.
With improved shooting and defense, the Rockets should also move up in the standings, and that would at least lead them to a play-in spot. Sure, getting into the top six would save them from having to win play-in games to qualify for the playoffs, but playing beyond the final game of the regular season would be a huge step forward.
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