Alperen Sengun arguably has been the best player on the Houston Rockets for the last two seasons. He was their best and most consistent player in their latest playoff run. However, while he excels on offense, fans continue to criticize his defense. Well, it looks like that is going to change for next season.
Alperen Sengun Has Good News for Rockets Fans
Speaking on a Turkish podcast, Sengun discussed his preparations for the upcoming season. He has three goals that he wants to improve on. Those are shooting, finishing around the rim, and conditioning, with the last one helping him on the defensive end. He said:
“I am working on my conditioning. I don’t want to lose my condition at all. Or my shape, compared to last year. It helped me on defense, and I got more playing time.”
Sengun has been criticized by the media for his defense, but he says he is working on it. Improving his conditioning is a good step in making sure he is better on that side. And according to Sengun, playing the double big lineup helps on defense as well.
“Whatever the team needed, I was that player. I’ve always been the guy willing to give that. Defense? Defense! Offense? Offense! Our coaching staff is built around a strong defensive philosophy. So I play alongside great defensive players. That’s why things got easier for me when Coach Udoka brought the double big lineup at the end of the year. Battling the opposing big men inside while also going on offense used to tire me out. This time around, my performance improved by the end of the season. Because I play in a double big line-up. Now I’ve got more energy for offense and defense.”
The Rockets went even further this offseason in making sure they are big and lengthy. They added Clint Capela, a former Rockets fan-favorite, to the roster while retaining Steven Adams. They now have three big players they can throw at teams, making sure they are all rested and full with energy to demolish teams inside.
How Far Can the Rockets Go Next Season?
The biggest offseason move the Rockets made was adding Kevin Durant. The playoffs showed they lacked a true go-to guy on the offensive side of the ball. They upgraded from Jalen Green to KD, which should make their offense more potent than ever. But as the saying goes, defense wins championships.
We also have to mention that other teams in the Western Conference improved as well. Looking at the championship odds for the 2025-26 season, the Rockets have the third-best odds among West teams, behind the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Denver Nuggets. They finished second last season in the standings. If Sengun plays better defense, the Rockets will be a scary team. They are already one of the best defensive teams in the league. But with their big men playing better defense in addition to perimeter players like Amen Thompson and Tari Eason, Houston will be a scary out for anyone.
© Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
