Don’t look now, but the Houston Rockets are the fifth-best team in the league early on in the season. They have the fifth-best record at 10-4, and the fifth-best point differential at +8.5. Sitting at third place in the stacked Western Conference, the Rockets should feel good about their team.
Their young star, Alperen Sengun, thinks that way as well. While the Rockets are in multiple trade rumors, Sengun believes they have a great team right now.
Sengun believes the Rockets Have a Great Team
Following the win against the Chicago Bulls, in which he recorded his second triple-double in a row, the Turkish player talked about the team’s chemistry. He said,
“I mean this season we being good, everybody helping each other back. You know there everybody like talking, helping each other. I mean it’s just like we are a great team right now. You know we doing the teamwork, offense defense.”
Sengun might not be delivering the same production as last year, but the team has played better. So far, he is averaging fewer points, free-throw attempts, minutes, and field goal attempts. But he is grabbing more rebounds and blocking more shots, averaging more than double the blocks he averaged in 2023-24. If you watch the Houston Rockets play, Sengun is more active on the defensive end. With the team playing better at offense, he has more energy to spend on the defensive side of the ball.
He even mentioned that during his postgame interview following the win against the Bulls. The Turkish star said,
“I’m a help guy, I’m trying to help my teammates. I’m trying to get their back and Jabari guarding the switch in and then I’m getting the roller you know, that’s just our game plan and yeah, I feel comfortable about it.”
Is Houston a Good Team?
This year’s Rockets have improved by sharing the ball more. While they average fewer assists compared to last season (22.9 to 24.8 per game), it is evident that more players are getting more touches. Their second and third-year players have taken a small step forward.
For example, Amen Thompson is averaging double-digit points now, and he has been more aggressive. His free throw attempts have gone up from 2.5 to 4.1 per game, a clear indication of his aggressiveness. He is averaging almost two points more, on essentially the same amount of field goal attempts.
Tari Eason is another player that has taken a step forward. He is averaging three more points per game, and it is all thanks to his improved efficiency. His field goal percentage went up from 46.6% to 52.7%.
Last year, the Rockets had six players in double figures, and five players averaging more than 30 minutes per game. This year, head coach Ime Udoka has increased his rotation, and the Rockets have seven players averaging 10+ points per game, and only three playing more than 30 minutes per game.
Can the Rockets Swing a Trade?
Despite Alperen Sengun believing the Rockets have enough, and they are a great team right now, the front office might not agree with him.
Multiple sources believe the Rockets are the team to watch at the deadline. They might be going big game hunting for a player like Kevin Durant or Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Rockets’ future is bright, but adding a superstar like Giannis to a roster full of young and energetic players could accelerate their timeline for competing. Right now, they might have the deepest, most balanced young core in the NBA. Their swarming, suffocating defense is highly impressive.
With young players like Alperen Sengun, Thompson, Eason, Jabari Smith Jr., Jalen Green, Cam Whitmore, and Reed Sheppard, the Rockets can sustain trading two of their youngsters for a star. On top of that, they can offer plenty of draft capital and some expiring contracts.
