The Rockets are one of the surprises of this start to the season. Without a star to gravitate towards, they have made collective effort their forte. And the future bodes well
Houston, we have a problem. No, this time it’s not about the well-known phrase recited by Tom Hanks in Apollo 13, but about what the Houston Rockets have become for all the other 29 NBA franchises. Because the Texas team, with the soft step of a ninja in the shadows, is carving out a leading role in a Western Conference that is full of battleships equipped for the title. And he is doing it by sending onto the field every evening a defense that coach Ime Udoka angrily described, just a few months ago, as “the softest in the league”, but which is now a problem for every opponent. Part of the change also comes from the leap in quality made by Tari Eason and Amen Thompson, the so-called “terror twins” who are driving fans crazy thanks to their dynamism with seemingly inexhaustible batteries. Playing against them is like being persecuted even when there is only an inch left from the basket. In short, these Rockets are serious and, although they are not yet a contender, they have all the characteristics to become one in the future: a coach looking for redemption and a young and well-assembled roster.
