The Houston Rockets (currently 38-23, fourth in the West) have been one of the NBA’s most intriguing stories this season – a young, reloaded team with Kevin Durant anchoring the veteran presence and a talented core pushing for playoff positioning. But the offense has been frustratingly inconsistent, especially since Steven Adams went down with his season-ending ankle injury in January. Adams’ physicality, screen-setting, rebounding, and rim pressure masked a multitude of sins; without him, the cracks are glaring.
Houston’s early-season formula was simple mathematics: generate more possessions than opponents, convert a high percentage of them close to the rim or from open threes, and outscore teams through sheer volume and efficiency. Adams facilitated that – his screens created easy looks, his offensive rebounds extended possessions, and his presence deterred help defense.
Since his absence, the attack has devolved into something far less fluid. Under head coach Ime Udoka, the Rockets have leaned heavily on pick-and-roll actions and isolation sets – often standing around watching Durant or Alperen Şengün operate one-on-one. The results have been mixed at best:
- Durant remains elite (26.2 PPG on 51/40/89 splits), but his handle has always been a limitation in tight spaces – he’s not a creator who consistently breaks down defenses off the dribble in halfcourt.
- Şengün (20.5 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 6.3 APG) is a gifted passer and post scorer, but he’s inefficient in key areas: unreliable at the free-throw line, prone to mid-range jumpers (low-percentage shots), and not dynamic enough to justify heliocentric possessions.
- Amen Thompson has been asked to initiate and facilitate sets – a role that simply doesn’t match his elite athleticism, transition finishing, and defensive instincts. He’s not a natural playmaker.
At halftime of Friday’s win over the Portland Trail Blazers, assistant coach Royal Ivey laid out the blueprint for offensive success:
“Continuity. The way we move the ball. We share the ball. We’re cutting hard. We’re being selfless with the extra pass.”
Friday’s victory offered a glimpse of what that looks like when executed. The Rockets made a conscious effort to hit Amen Thompson in transition, and Reed Sheppard took on more on-ball duties – creating opportunities through his gravity as one of the NBA’s deadliest long-range threats. Sheppard (3-of-8 from three) and the team’s spacing opened driving lanes and easy finishes.
But the shooting night was poor overall: Houston went 5-of-19 from deep (26.3%). Sheppard aside, Tari Eason (0-for-4) and others struggled from the perimeter – a concerning trend for a team that needs outside volume to complement their interior attack.
The formula for a truly dangerous Rockets offense is clear:
- Push pace and hit transition looks (Thompson excels here).
- Let Sheppard initiate and create with his shooting gravity.
- Share the ball with extra passes and hard cuts (as Ivey emphasized).
- Maximize Durant’s mid-range/post game without forcing iso-heavy sets.
- Get Şengün touches in high-percentage areas (paint, short roll, lobs) rather than contested mid-range.
Sunday’s home game against the San Antonio Spurs will be a critical litmus test. If Udoka leans into the continuity, ball movement, and Sheppard-led creation that worked Friday – rather than reverting to iso-heavy Durant/Şengün sets – Houston could start building momentum offensively at the perfect time. With 21 games left and a fourth seed in sight, small adjustments could turn “subpar” into “dangerous.”
Rockets fans, what’s your take? Is Sheppard the key to unlocking better flow? Should Udoka reduce Şengün’s mid-range attempts and force more paint touches? Or is Durant still the best option to carry heavy usage? Drop your thoughts below – Sunday could be a turning point.