Fundamentals Are Keeping the Rockets from Blasting Off
The Houston Rockets, despite having a great start to the 2024-25 season, are currently playing some of their worst basketball of the year. With four straight losses, including two to the Brooklyn Nets, the team has been throwing wins away recently. A heartbreaking last-second loss yesterday places the team third in the Western Conference, just one game ahead of the Denver Nuggets. With two more games remaining on their current road trip, the Rockets will hope to get back into the win column before returning to Houston.
Losing to the Nets last night was not only shocking, but the teams’ performance down the stretch left alarm bells ringing in fans' heads. Leading by four points with nine seconds remaining, the team quickly gave up a three before having an inbounds pass stolen and then surrendered another three. Eventually, losing 99-97 despite leading 97-93 with less than 10 seconds left. While the Rockets are still figuring things out as a young team in a loaded Western Conference playoff race, these losses simply cannot be afforded. One area that is becoming a glaring issue for the team is at the free-throw line. Over the past four games, the team has missed 21 free throws, including nine last night. As a team, the Rockets rank just 23rd in the league in free throw percentage, shooting 75.5% as a group. Last night, in particular, star center Alperen Şengün was the biggest culprit, missing six free throws alone.
With great young players like Şengün, Jalen Green, and Amen Thompson, the team still has a great opportunity to climb up the Western Conference standings before the conclusion of the regular season. Pairing these guys with steady veterans like Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks, the team may have the chance to make a deep playoff run. With the trade deadline looming, Houston is expected to make at least one move in order to shore up their rotation. Whichever way you look at it, the team has an amazing future; however, in order for them to progress and win more games, they’ll certainly have to hone in on the fundamentals as the regular season comes to a close.
