RSS Rockets Team Notes

[Houston Rockets]

Has Reed Sheppard arrived for the Rockets?

Reed Sheppard is starting to reverse the all-too-early concocted narrative on him as an NBA player. It’s still early in the season (and his NBA career) but we can’t ignore what he’s been doing of late, and what’s been said about him.

He was written off long ago.

Dating back to his rookie season, we’ve heard about how Reed Sheppard isn’t fully ready to be an every-night player for the Houston Rockets. During his rookie season, he did very little to dispel such dialogue.

He was an indecisive player who also struggled to hit outside shots, which was supposed to be his bread and butter. On the year, Sheppard hit just 33.8 percent of his threes.

Again, that was supposed to be his greatest area of contribution.

Sometimes it takes time, though.

Most of the time, actually. Especially for rookies. This season, however, Sheppard has been turning naysayers into believers. Especially of late.

In Houston’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs in Friday’s NBA Cup opener, Sheppard played quite stellar, to the tune of 16 points on just 10 shots, yielding a video-game esque 80 percent true shooting and 80 percent effective field goal mark.

And don’t forget the 6 assists (and just one turnover).

Sheppard was the Rockets’ third-leading scorer behind Alperen Sengun and Kevin Durant. Not bad for a “bust of a pick”. And he made some sensational plays, like the beautiful bounce-pass dime to Steven Adams in the second half.

In Sunday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Sheppard was even better.

Dude threw a halfcourt rope to Tari Eason while on the ground (after forcing a turnover). He also had decisive buckets in the fourth quarter, turning down 3-point shots for wide open mid-range buckets. He then forced another steal and hit a three in transition. All told, Sheppard had 16 points on just 10 shots and went 4-of-6 from three.

Sheppard also had five stocks (yes, you read that right) — four of which were steals and a sensational block.

From a point guard standpoint (since that’s all the talk these days), the Rockets don’t exactly seem comfortable with him there. For example, when Sheppard was on the floor in Sunday’s victory, he seldomly was slotted at the point guard spot.

But he’s been turning doubters into believers, regardless of the role that’s been asked of him. It’s time to put some respect on his name.

In the last three games, Sheppard has averaged 14.7 points, three assists, two steals, 63 percent from the field, and 58.8 percent from long-range.

On the year, Sheppard is now shooting 47.9 percent from deep.

Again, please put some respect on this man’s name expeditiously.

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/rocke...reed-sheppard-arrived-for-the-houston-rockets

 

[Houston Rockets]

Rockets rally past the Bucks in Milwaukee 122-115

After an embarrassing loss to the Spurs in their first NBA Cup game, the Rockets needed to cleanse their pallet and get back to doing the things that help them win ball games. Early on against the Bucks it didn’t look like that was going to happen. The Rockets have struggled at times to defend the three-point shot and despite the win, which did not change in this game. The Rockets allowed the Bucks to shoot nearly 45 percent from the three-point line. Right now, the Rockets are 14th in three point percentage allowed, but this is back-to-back games where their opponent has shot more than 40 percent from the arc.

Besides that, turnovers have been a common theme this season and because of both of those issues the Rockets found themselves giving up 30 points in the first quarter and 31 points in the second quarter, finding themselves down by double digits at several points in the game, at one point trailing by 14 points. However, if I’m going to point out what the Rockets continue to struggle with, I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that they did get back to doing what now has them with 6-3 record, and that’s dominating the boards and the paint.

The Rockets outrebounded the Bucks 59-34, which included 20 offensive rebounds, leading to 18 second chance points. The Rockets scored 58 paint points and shot a respectable 53 percent from the field in their own right and 38 percent from three. The Rockets scored 32 points in the third quarter, and 40 in the fourth, holding the Bucks to 24 and 30, respectively. Another stat that gave the Rockets an edge is free-throw shooting. The Rockets made 16-of-21 from the stripe while the Bucks took more free-throws, but also missed more, going 14-of-24 from the line.

Rockets fans are thrilled to see a relatively high functioning offense from a team that looked like it didn’t even practice offense at times last season. Seeing a stat line of 31 points, 7 assists, and 3 rebounds from Kevin Durant, 23 points, 7 assists and 11 rebounds from Sengun, six players scoring in double figures, including Reed Sheppard with his second consecutive 16-point game on 6-0f-10 shooting, are all welcomed sights. That being said, the lack of defensive efficiency is cause for concern.

Let’s call it what it is… the zone defense isn’t working. The San Antonio Spurs were able to expose what can happen to the Rockets when they aren’t outrebounding you, and aren’t out scoring you. The Rockets defense has declined. There is no doubt that missing Dorian Finney-Smith is a contributing factor, as he was supposed to be your replacement for Dillon Brooks. However, Josh Okogie has played very well in his place, and the reality is that if the Rockets are going to stay big, they will have a hard time defending the perimeter, with or without Finney-Smith.

Reed Sheppard’s play as of late has been encouraging and at the end of the day the Rockets are now 6-3. The sky isn’t falling, but we should not ignore in victory what we would not ignore in defeat. The Rockets need more time to gel and communicate on defense and figure out who they can trust to handle the ball under pressure. Kevin Durant bouncing back off of a string of poor shooting games and Alperen Sengun making clutch plays against arguably the best player in basketball in the 4th quarter is why Rockets fans are very optimistic that this team will just keep getting better.

They begin a three-game homestand against the Washington Wizards on Wednesday. Don’t forget to chat it up with you fellow Dream Shakers in our TDS Game Thread!

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/rocke...-thompson-reed-sheppard-giannis-antetokounmpo

 

[Houston Rockets]

Rockets still await Dorian Finney-Smith to strengthen their defense

This past offseason, forward Dorian Finney-Smith agreed to a four-year, $53 million contract with the Houston Rockets. The first two seasons of the contract are completely guaranteed; the third and fourth years are not, and there is a player option in the fourth year. The addition of a valuable three-and-D wing to the Rockets’ lineup enhances both their defense and three-point shooting. However, just months after signing, Dorian underwent surgery for an ankle injury, leaving Houston without one of their best defenders to begin this season.

Since then, the Rockets haven’t given many updates on his condition. The Rockets have not provided a timetable for when the seasoned forward would play, but head coach Ime Udoka informed Michael Shapiro of SI.com on October 18 that Finney-Smith was behind schedule in his recuperation. Until the Rockets announce that Finney-Smith has resumed practicing, take him on a week-to-week basis.

Houston had one of the best defensive records in the league last season (≈ 110.8 DRTG, according to StatMuse), and the organization anticipates further defensive improvement after his return. For instance, DFS’s on-court teams had considerably higher net ratings when he played for other teams. This implies that he strengthens both ends, but particularly the defensive end.

Thankfully, it appears that Dorian’s absence is becoming less of a concern as Houston’s defense is now at 113.5 according to StatMuse, putting them at 10th best. However, this team will be able to reach another level defensively after his return. Smith’s defensive IQ aids in planning rotations and switches on a young team, something Houston finds difficult to do when he is not playing alongside veteran leadership for a team that outside of Kevin Durant, has not made many deep postseason runs. Udoka’s defense is mostly on toughness and switching. Because Finney-Smith is suited for that style, the Rockets are forced to play more drop or zone coverages when he isn’t there. Houston’s defense at the point of attack should improve once he returns.

Hopefully, Dorian can return soon and provide yet another addition to an already competent Rocket’s defense. You can catch the Houston Rockets Wednesday night as they take on the Washington Wizards in Houston at 7:00 Central on Space City Home Network or NBA League Pass.

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/rocke...rian-finney-smith-to-strengthen-their-defense

 

[Houston Rockets]

Rockets look to bounce back against the Bucks in MIL

Houston Rockets vs Milwaukee Bucks​

November 9, 2025​

Location: Fiserv Forum: Milwaukee, WI

TV: Space City Home Network

Radio:KBME Sports Talk 790

Online: Rockets App

Gametime: 2:30 PM CST

Probable Starting Lineups​

Rockets: A. Thompson, Josh Okogie, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun

Bucks: Ryan Rollins, Gary Trent, AJ Green, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Miles Turner

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/rocke...en-thompson-josh-okogie-giannis-antetokounmpo

 

[Houston Rockets]

Houston Rockets vs. Washington Wizards game preview

The Houston Rockets welcome the 1-10 Washington Wizards to the Toyota Center tonight.

The Rockets are coming off a big comeback win over the Milwaukee Bucks in a Sunday matinee. They’ve had two days off. Meanwhile, the Wizards are coming off a heartbreaking loss to the Detroit Pistons. Washington led by 7 with 1:14 left and by 5 with 14 seconds left, but two late triples from Daniss Jenkins sent the game to overtime and eventually a loss for the Wizards.

The Wizards are a bottom-3 team in both offensive and defensive efficiency this season. CJ McCollum got off to a bad start but has since turned things around. He dropped 42 against the Pistons and was clutch throughout. Alex Sarr continues to improve and look the part of the second overall pick in a bad draft. Every advanced stat basically says he’s not only their best player so far this season, but that he’s got the makings of a really good NBA player. The eye test proves that as well. Bilal Coulibaly, Bub Carrington, and Kyshawn George are other recent first round picks on the team. In this most recent draft, they took Tre Johnson out of Texas. He’s averaging 12 points per game on 43% shooting (38% from deep) so far.

The Wizards are sort of reminiscent of the Rockets in Stephen Silas’s last season in charge. They have a lot of youth, but unlike those Silas teams, the Wizards actually do have some veterans to help out. In addition to McCollum, they have Khris Middleton. Both guys are on expiring contracts. There’s a chance one or both could be bought out at some point, but for now it makes sense for them to keep the experience on the team.

Finally, I have to mention that tonight is the Cam Whitmore Revenge Game. He’s averaging 9 points per game off the bench, but dropped 20 against the Pistons and picked up a couple of steals. Cam’s always had the talent to be an NBA player. The question has always been if the effort and drive would catch up to his talent level. I expect him to take 20 shots tonight and stare down Ime Udoka after each make.

Tip-off​

7pm CT

How To Watch​

Space City Home Network

Injury Report​

Rockets​

Dorian Finney-Smith: OUT (ankle)

Wizards​

Bilal Coulibaly: GTD

The Line (as of this post)​

N/A

Check here for updates

Looking ahead because we can​

Friday night in Houston against the Portland Trail Blazers for the Falcon

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/rocke...on-rockets-vs-washington-wizards-game-preview

 

[Houston Rockets]

Rockets look to secure another win versus Washington

Houston Rockets vs Washington Wizards

November 12, 2025

Location: Toyota Center: Houston, TX
TV: Space City Home Network
Radio:KBME Sports Talk 790
Online: Rockets App
Gametime: 7:00 PM CST
Probable Starting Lineups
Rockets: A. Thompson, Josh Okogie, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun
Wizards: , Jordan Poole, Kyshawn George, Bub Carrington, Justin Champagnie, and Alex Sarr

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/rocke...-look-to-secure-another-win-versus-washington

 

[Houston Rockets]

Rockets beat Wizards to win second game in a row

After playing six of their first nine games away from home, the Houston Rockets began a three-game homestand at Toyota Center on Wednesday. The Rockets easily defeated the Washington Wizards, a one-win team with the poorest record in the NBA, 135–112, led by a season-high 21 points from Reed Sheppard and 20 from Tari Eason.

With Sheppard and Eason leading the way, Houston’s bench scored 56 points. Alperen Şengün contributed 16 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists, while Kevin Durant scored 23 points, 19 of which came in the first half. Amen Thompson scored eighteen points. in addition to a team-best eight assists.
Houston, the league’s top-ranked offense, faced Washington, the league’s second-worst-ranked defense. And it was evident.
By halftime, the Rockets had scored 81 points, which was their highest total of the season. Houston outscored Washington 53-37 and shot 53% from the floor, including 50% from 3-point range, to end the game.
At every position, Houston was larger than Washington; even Josh Okogie, the 6-foot-4 starting guard for the Rockets, was an inch taller than CJ McCollum, the point guard for the Wizards. Sarr and Tristan Vukcevic, an uncommon double-big combination, were even deployed by the Wizards, but it wasn’t enough to tip the scales in their favor.

The most points a Rockets player has scored in a quarter this season was 16 points from Durant in the first quarter. In addition to making a living at the foul line and shooting 11-of-14 free throws, including Durant’s 5-of-6, Houston hit 50% from the field. By halftime, the Rockets had more than twice as many rebounds as the Wizards, four players with double figures, and 20 assists on 30 field goals. The total result was a 27-point advantage. Importantly, in the first half, the Rockets only committed three turnovers, and the Wizards only managed four points from those. The Rockets, however, were outscored 33-22 and outrebounded by three points in the third quarter after dominating the Wizards in the first half. The Rockets’ six mistakes gave the Wizards nine points, proving that the turnover bug has returned. However, Houston was able to settle down and managed to win the fourth quarter 32 – 25.

Houston looks to remain undefeated during their homestand with their next game on Friday at 7:00 pm versus the Portland Trail Blazers.

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/rocke...ets-beat-wizzards-to-win-second-game-in-a-row

 

[Houston Rockets]

Kyrie Irving would kill the Rockets vibe

Karma. Juju. Vibes.

This stuff matters. It’s hard to put a finger on it, but you know it matters.

It’s got to feel right. If it feels wrong, follow that intuition. There are machinations at play that we don’t understand. Whatever your cosmic alignment, you’re naive to assume that cold, hard logic dictates everything.

Kyrie Irving.

Logic dictates that the Rockets should pursue him. That’s why the rumors have persisted (other than Ted Cruz’s omnipresent influence, of course). He’s very good, and he does everything the Rockets need.

In 2024-25, Irving averaged 24.7 points and 4.6 assists per game with a Box Plus/Minus (BPM) of 3.4. The assists were down, but he spent most of the year playing alongside Luka “Usage” Doncic. Irving is a solid passer and a fine defender, along with being a prolific, efficient scorer.

He scored 1.06 Points Per Possession (PPP) in isolation, good for the 85.7th percentile. He was even better as a pick-and-roll ball-handler, scoring 1.07 PPP (92nd). He’s good, and he’d make the Rockets better:

But doesn’t it feel wrong?

Rockets should avoid Irving​

To get more specific, logic dictates that acquiring Irving would be difficult. The Rockets would need Fred VanVleet to waive his implied no-trade clause.

Already, we’re getting off on the wrong foot. Bringing in Irving, whose many foibles we’ll discuss later, for consummate professional* Fred VanVleet feels like a negative tonal shift for this team. Convincing the President of the National Basketball Players’ Association (NBPA) to waive a contractual protection to accommodate the President of the Flat Earth Society is at least a questionable decision.

*Side note: Why is consumate the adjective we always use for professionals? Can we get a perspicacious professional? Where are all the assiduous professionals?

When VanVleet signed with the Rockets, he infamously gifted his teammates a copy of Chop Wood, Carry Water: How to Fall in Love with the Process of Becoming Great. Would Irving gift them a copy of…

You know what, never mind.

Listen: Politics and sport have a tenuous relationship. The “shut up and dribble” crowd is dehumanizing, but there are certain views that everyone, athletes and laymen alike, ought to shut up about. At least, that’s my opinion – and that’s where it gets murky.

I’ve belaboured this point recently regarding Ja Morant. I don’t like to cast aspersions on people I’ve not met. Yet, it’s a variable in sports. It’s fairly undeniable that trouble has followed Irving. His personal proclivities already seemed to have sabotaged a situation with Durant.

Why should the Rockets take a risk on his seemingly volatile personality? They don’t need a point guard that badly. Frankly, Reed Sheppard is rounding into form anyway. The sophomore guard is averaging 12.2 points per game and hitting an astonishing 50.0% of his 5.6 threes per game.

It feels like a specious argument. It’s almost anti-empericism. I’m suggesting that even though Irving is a great basketball player, the Rockets should avoid him for normative reasons.

Well, I’m sticking to it.

Rule of thumb: If Ted Cruz is for it, be against it. Even most Republicans will agree with that. Irving has baggage that isn’t worth shouldering, even for the basketball value he brings.

Things feel good in Space City, and it matters. The Rockets have seemingly made a point of targeting team-minded, drama-free guys, and it has paid dividends.

If it turns out that the Rockets need a point guard so badly, they can target someone who doesn’t kill their vibe.

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/rocke...ie-irving-would-kill-the-houston-rockets-vibe

 

[Houston Rockets]

Houston Rockets vs. Portland Trail Blazers game preview

The NBA Cup continues tonight when the Houston Rockets take on the Portland Trail Blazers at Toyota Center on the red court.

In Houston’s group (Group C), there have been three total Cup games so far, and each has been won by the home team (Blazers over Nuggets, Nuggets over Warriors, and Spurs over the Rockets). It’s entirely possible the home teams could win every game and the group could finish with five teams at 2-2 in group play. Then it would come down to point differential, which is the tiebreaker.

Moving onto the actual game itself, the Blazers have shrugged off a federal indictment of their head coach to become a giant killer. Portland is 6-5 with wins over the Warriors, Nuggets (in the Cup as mentioned earlier), and Lakers. They also hold the distinction of being the only team to have beaten the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder this season.

The Blazers are first in creating turnovers (opponent TOV%) and second in pace. That should tell you a lot about how they want to win, and as a Rockets fan it should terrify you. Houston’s biggest weakness so far this season has been turning the ball over (23rd in TOV%) and want to play slowly (27th in pace). If you’re looking for the positives, the Blazers are a below-average defensive rebounding team (22nd) and give up the most trips to the foul line per possession. The Rockets are tops in the league in offensive rebounding rate and fourth in getting to the line. So the story of the game will be Portland’s desire to turn over the Rockets against Houston’s attempts to grab offensive rebounds and get to the free throw line.

Tip-off​

7pm CT

How To Watch​

Space City Home Network

Injury Report​

Rockets​

Dorian Finney-Smith: OUT (ankle)

Blazers​

Scoot Henderson: OUT

Blake Wesley: OUT

Matisse Thybulle: OUT

The Line (as of this post)​

N/A

Check here for updates

Looking ahead because we can​

Sunday night in Houston against the Orlando Magic

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/rocke...ockets-vs-portland-trail-blazers-game-preview

 

[Houston Rockets]

Rockets back in NBA Cup action at home against the Blazers

Houston Rockets vs Portland Trail Blazers​

November 14, 2025​

Location: Toyota Center – Houston, Texas

TV: Space City Home Network

Radio:KBME Sports Talk 790

Online: Rockets App

Gametime: 7:00 PM CST

Probable Starting Lineups​

Rockets: A. Thompson, Josh Okogie, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun

Blazers: Shaedon Sharpe, Toumani Camara, Jrue Holiday, Deni Avdija, Donovan Clingan

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/rocke...n-kevin-durant-alperen-sengun-jabari-smith-jr

 

[Houston Rockets]

Rockets blow out the Blazers 140-116 in Game 2 of NBA Cup play

Coming into tonight’s Emirates NBA Cup game against the Portland Trail Blazers, Kevin Durant had an NBA leading 29 consecutive 20-point games versus the franchise that could have drafted him number one overall back in 2007. Whether or not he was aware of this before tonight, I can’t tell you. What I can tell you is he almost got his 30th consecutive 20-point game versus the Blazers all in the first quarter. Kevin was sensational again. He finished the night with 30 points in 35 minutes on the floor, shooting 12-of-19 (63.2%) and 3-of-6 from the three-point line.

In fact, every Rockets player was sensational on offense, as seven players scored in double figures, and they grabbed 20 of their 56 rebounds on the offensive end. The Rockets continue to be the NBA’s best three-point shooting team as they were 17-of-45 on Friday night against a very respectable Trail Blazers defense. The Rockets allowed the Blazers to shoot 47.2 percent from the field and 36.1 percent from three, but the difference maker in this game was the turnover differential.

The Houston Rockets only turned over the ball six times the entire game. Meanwhile, defensively they forced 20 Trail Blazer turnovers, 16 of them steals, that lead to 23 fast-break points. The Rockets were very active defensively, also blocking six shots and only allowing nine Trail Blazer fast-break points. Deni Avdija, the Blazers best offensive player, scored 22 points on 7-of-15 shooting, but was held in check throughout most of the game until the Rockets were already up big. The Blazers were able to make the game interesting briefly in the third quarter, but the lead never really felt threatened as the Rockets had an answer to each Blazer run in the second half.

Other Rockets standouts were, Jabari Smith Jr. with 22 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and a steal. Alperen Sengun was one assist away from a triple-double with 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists, and Reed Sheppard continued his hot streak of good basketball with 13 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 steals as his confidence continues to grow with each game. Amen Thompson added 19 points to what would be a season-high offensive output of 140 points.

The Portland Trail Blazers are no pushover team. The boast wins this season over the OKC Thunder, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers, and Golden State Warriors, despite the distraction of their head coach being investigated by the FBI for an alleged involvement in an illegal gambling ring. The Rockets just manhandled a very good NBA team, who is reminiscent of their own young team just one year ago with Jrue Holiday playing the role of mentor to the young core. Besides that, this big win now makes them a +13 in NBA Cup play point differential. So overall this was a quality win and big one for the Rockets. The get back to work against the Orlando Magic at home on Sunday at 6:00 PM CST. We will be right here to cover all the analysis pre and postgame on TDS.

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/rocke...nt-alperen-sengun-amen-thompson-reed-sheppard

 

[Houston Rockets]

Houston Rockets vs. Orlando Magic game preview

The Houston Rockets wrap up a 3-game homestand tonight against the Orlando Magic. After tonight, five of Houston’s next six games come on the road, with the only home game coming against the Denver Nuggets in an NBA Cup tilt this Friday.

The Magic haven’t gotten off to the start they were hoping to. After acquiring Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies, Orlando was a popular pick to be a dark horse in the East. That’s still available to them, especially after going 6-2 after a 1-4 start. That includes a blowout win over the Knicks at Madison Square Garden and a win over the Trail Blazers.

Tonight will be Houston’s first game without Tari Eason, who had gotten off to a great start. His 3-point shooting had taken a huge leap. That was probably unsustainable, but Eason’s confidence was clear as he works towards restricted free agency. He’ll be back in 4-6 weeks and you know Houston will be careful with him.

The Magic will be without Paolo Banchero and Mo Wagner. Franz Wagner and Bane will initiate offense for Orlando, with Jalen Suggs, Wendell Carter Jr., and Tristan da Silva also playing big minutes and contributing in multiple ways.

Tip-off​

6pm CT

How To Watch​

Space City Home Network

Injury Report​

Rockets​

Tari Eason: OUT (leg)

Dorian Finney-Smith: OUT (ankle)

Magic​

Paolo Banchero: OUT

Mo Wagner: OUT

The Line (as of this post)​

HOU -7.5

Check here for updates

Looking ahead because we can​

Wednesday night in Cleveland against the Cavaliers

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/rocke...houston-rockets-vs-orlando-magic-game-preview

 

[Houston Rockets]

The Rockets cruelly confusing Tari Eason problem

If I’ve tried to make anything clear during my time as a Houston Rockets writer, it’s this:

I love Tari Eason.

This has not been a secret. Eason is the prototype “player you want”. He’s the guy that, when you look back at a championship roster, you say, “Sure, he averaged 12 and 6, but they don’t get that chip without that dude”. Star creators reign supreme, but the next tier of players could be succinctly summarized as “Tari Easons”.

That’s why his recent oblique tear is egregiously terrible.

Rockets lose essential role player in Eason​

Before we get into the implications of (another) Eason injury, let’s talk a bit more about how good Eason is – for my mental health, if nothing else.

In 2024-25, Eason’s 3.3% Steal Percentage would have ranked third in the NBA if he’d played enough games to qualify for the leaderboard. His 9.4% Offensive Rebound Percentage would have tied for 14th. Here’s a list of players who landed in the Top 15 in each of these statistical categories:

NBA Players who Ranked Top-15 in Steal Percentage and Offensive Rebound Percentage in 2024-25

1. Tari Eason

Look at that! We’re already done.

That’s not an arbitrary grouping of stats. In tandem, they establish Eason as the NBA’s foremost extra-possession monster. If there’s a way to get the ball, Eason is going to get the ball. Trying to keep him from the orange sphere is like trying to stop the sun from rising. Eason likely has a recurring nightmare where a member of another NBA team has possession of the basketball.

Granted, he’s been a different player in 2025-26. His Steal Percentage (1.7) and Offensive Rebound Percentage (7.3) have dropped considerably. Eason has offset those declines by shooting a casual 50.9% from deep, up from 34.2%.

Those numbers will all likely normalize as the season wears on. Here’s the sadder likelihood: Eason probably won’t qualify for leaderboards this year, either.

That’s the problem.

Rockets’ Tari Eason is officially injury-prone​

A more cynical person may say that following this injury, Eason’s contract negotiations could be favorable for the team.

It’s a forever-icky component of sports. Injuries can be beneficial in a myriad of ways. Surely, we can all agree that a speedy recovery is the best-case scenario here.

Still, it’s undeniable that Eason’s relentless injuries will factor into negotiations. That could mean the Rockets get him at a discounted rate, but it also raises an uncomfortable question:

How much should the Rockets commit to Eason?

In the end, any commitment is going to be a gamble. The margins may be relatively thin. If Eason will settle for $20 million (dear God, new NBA money is vulgar), the Rockets should rush to find a pen. What if he wants $30 million?

That’s a sizeable sum if he’s going to miss time every year. The Rockets have also created a labyrinth of cap considerations moving forward. They need to keep space on the books for Amen Thompson, and now, it looks like Reed Sheppard should be earmarked for a substantial share too.

The head spins trying to get a handle on the long-term cap situation. I won’t get granular – frankly, out of a sense of journalistic responsibility to be accurate. It does feel reasonable to say that the Rockets have a lot of mouths to feed, and that Eason’s place at the table is tenous if he can’t stay on the floor.

I just lost a little piece of my soul. There’s no disputing Eason’s on-court value. It’s just a moot point during every second that he’s on the injury list. If Eason gets hurt again this year, the Rockets have to start thinking about how much money they’re willing to commit to him:

I say that with love.

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/rocke...-rockets-cruelly-confusing-tari-eason-problem

 

[Houston Rockets]

Rockets look to keep winning vs. Magic

Houston Rockets vs Orlando Magic​

November 16, 2025​

Location: Toyota Center – Houston, Texas

TV: Space City Home Network

Radio:KBME Sports Talk 790

Online: Rockets App

Gametime: 6:00 PM CST

Probable Starting Lineups​

Rockets: A. Thompson, Josh Okogie, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun

Magic: Jalen Suggs, Desmond Bane, Franz Wagner, Jonathan Isaac, Wendell Carter Jr.

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/rocke...rockets-look-to-keep-winning-vs-orlando-magic

 

[Houston Rockets]

Rockets plan jersey switch back to fan favorites

The Houston Rockets’ jersey colorways don’t exactly ooze with excitement. Far from it, actually.

They’ve always had a simple touch. More of a traditional look, almost like the Boston Celtics or San Antonio Spurs.

Well, not that bland. Alas, the Rockets have at least changed their uniforms a few times.

The ketchup and mustard colorway holds a spot in Rockets’ fans hearts, as both of the Rockets’ championships were won while the team wore them.

Those were also the jerseys worn for nearly the entirety of Hakeem Olajuwon’s career in Houston.

Again, those uniforms were worn for seemingly ages. Well, decades.

And guess what?

They’re coming back.

Not in a City Edition uniform either.

Houston Rockets – from what we've been told, the Rockets will bust out a modern classic, reviving the look from the Hakeem Olajuwon/ketchup and mustard era.

*Note: this is not an official design, just our prediction of the base for each jersey. There will be more details than… pic.twitter.com/GkZTHfHIws

— ProLine Mockups (@ProLineMockups) November 12, 2025

The Rockets are changing their primary jerseys next season, along with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Atlanta Hawks and are expected to revive the ketchup and mustard colorway.

The Rockets have been in need of a rebrand for some time now and now is a good time for that. And the ketchup and mustard uniforms have become a cultural staple in the city of Houston.

Many Rockets fans have those jerseys still. In fact, I have a home and away Hakeem Olajuwon jersey in that exact colorway.

It’s also smart for the Rockets to pivot back to something they know will be accepted and met with excitement, rather than making a change just for the sake of making a change, like when they switched to the pajama style uniforms (which most people view as their least favorite Rockets jersey).

Those only lasted eight years, unsurprisingly. The Rockets have been donning their current jersey since 2019, although they’ve worn the colorway since 2003.

The main change has been the jersey font.

Rockets fans have been clamoring for the franchise to bring back the old uniforms of the past and alas, the franchise has decided to grant fans their wish.

From a timing standpoint, it couldn’t have been a better time. This Rockets team is easily the best one that we’ve seen since the first year of the Chris Paul-James Harden pairing.

It wouldn’t have been a good look to have those ketchup and mustard uniforms on a non-contending team.

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/rocke...kets-plan-jersey-switch-back-to-fan-favorites

 

[Houston Rockets]

Ex-Rockets fan favorite continues to make news for wrong reasons

Patrick Beverley has been in the headlines quite a bit since his last NBA season in 2023-24, and generally for non-basketball reasons. Just last week, the former Houston Rockets guard took a jab (albeit a playful one) at Dallas Mavericks sharpshooter Klay Thompson regarding his relationship with Houston rapper Megan Thee Stallion, stating that the rapper is the reason for Thompson’s poor play to start the 2025-26 season.

“I’ve never seen Klay not shoot it like this..His routine is thrown off. I’m not saying it’s her… I watch them on Instagram… The guy was juggling. It’s easy to juggle one thing, but when you put something else in there it’s harder, [your] focus takes off a lil bit.”

Prior to the start of the season, Beverley traded barbs with Atlanta Hawks superstar Trae Young, downplaying his “empty stats” and criticizing his leadership (or lack thereof).

Okay, chalk this all up to the transition to Beverley’s “media career”.

Although it’s mostly been Pat Bev jumping on podcasts, not providing insightful analysis, breaking down X’s and O’s, or diving into game film.

Oh, and throwing shade at Chris Paul on ESPN’s First Take (understandably, since he was traded for him).

It’s all about staying relevant, I get it. Somewhat.

ESPN’s Tim Legler doesn’t have that problem and he played far longer ago than Pat Bev.

Chalk it up to Beverley’s loquacious personality and fiery temperament. When channeled correctly, during his playing days, it gave he and his teammates a boost.

Off the court, however, it’s much different.

Case in point, Beverley’s arrest in Fort Bend County over the weekend.

The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s office was called to a residence in Rosharon, Texas (in the outskirts of Houston) at 3:50 AM (que the “nothing good happens after 12 AM” adage).

As it turns out, Beverley was arrested and charged with assault, family /household impeding breath in the third degree, which is a felony, in Beverley’s case.

Beverley immediately took to social media to proclaim his innocence (which is his right — innocent until proven guilty).

“Please don’t believe everything you see on the internet. Hope all is well Luv”

He posted again three hours later, doubling down on his presumed innocence.

Based on the charge, the offense was done against a family member, which Beverley says was his sister.

Again, Beverley has been in the news for the wrong reasons, but this is the worst case thus far.

But once again, he’s innocent until proven guilty.

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/rocke...rley-continues-to-make-news-for-wrong-reasons

 

[Houston Rockets]

Reed Sheppard unlocks everything for the Rockets

Fundamentally, there are two questions to ask about an NBA roster: How much talent do they have, and how well does that talent synergize?

There’s no reasonable debate to have over which variable is more important. You’d rather have a hyper-talented team with ill-fitting pieces than a bad team that fits. There is a question of degree. In the age of parity, it’s an ever-growing question. Can depth beat out top-end talent?

It’s hard to find a case study, too. The Thunder won the title this year. OK – they have arguably the best player in the NBA and (almost) inarguably the best-fitting, deepest squad. It’s a maximalist approach:

More? Yes.

If we’re parsing everything out, fit and depth are separate variables as well. Depth is the 1A: How much talent do you have, and how talented is the talent?

The Rockets have been good on that front. After aggregating as much talent as possible through the draft, the Rockets had a surplus.

At times, the fit between each piece has felt questionable. Last year, the question was this: How does a low-efficiency, high-volume shooter like Jalen Green fit alongside two non-shooters in Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun?

Kevin Durant was a band-aid solution. That’s not a criticism – a gaping wound needs to be bandaged – but it’s a reality. Yes, two non-shooters can co-exist alongside one of the best shooters ever, but what happens when Durant retires?

Well, Reed Sheppard’s emergence as a sophomore provides at least one path forward.

Rockets’ Reed Sheppard could be an all-time shooter​

Yes, I know.

Sengun is a shooter now. It’s beautiful. He’s still low volume enough to suggest that, alongside Thompson, it would be optimal to have an elite shooter in the mix.

That’s what Sheppard needs to be to justify his draft selection – an elite shooter. He’s always going to be small. That’s always going to be an issue. Yes, Sheppard has other gifts. His ability to rack up stocks is incredible. He’s a deft passer. Still, those are multiplier skills. Shooting is the foundation of his game. A small guard who makes defensive plays and good passing reads is a rotation player, but if that same guy is an elite shooter, it could be a star.

Luckily, he’s been an elite shooter this year.

That doesn’t just mean a high raw 3PT%, although Sheppard’s 47.8% on 5.8 attempts per game would make Mona Lisa blush. Yet, a more thorough breakdown of his shooting makes him look even more impressive.

The secret sauce is Sheppard’s efficient pull-up shooting. He’s knocking down 52.4% of his pull-up threes this summer. The volume is low (1.8 attempts per game) by virtue of Sheppard’s role and playing time, but if we assume he’ll remain efficient on more attempts, it virtually guarantees stardom.

Here are the top five players in made pull-up threes in 2025-26: James Harden (yes, that James Harden), Luka Doncic, Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Maxey, and Donovan Mitchell. This isn’t complicated. Pull-up threes are hard. They warp the geometry of the floor, and guys who can hit them in large volume are almost unequivocally stars.

Here’s another fun Sheppard fact. Sheppard is hitting just 28.6% of his 1.8 attempts that NBA.com qualifies as “open”. He’s hitting 45.5% of the 0.9 threes per game that qualify as “tightly defended” (closest defender 2-4 feet away). That’s right. Sheppard shoots like your unassuming roommate who secretly just submitted a Love Island audition: He craves attention.

It’s another starry quality. Shooting is the most fundamental basketball skill, and that’s why it’s the most portable. An elite shooter could be a superstar or a role player. What matters is how the shots come, and Sheppard is shooting like a star.

Remember how the Warriors won the 2017-18 NBA championship despite Draymond Green hitting 26.6% of his playoff threes? Steph Curry shoots for two. From a functional perspective, Sheppard can be the Rockets’ Curry. From the point of view of being such a dynamic shooter that he scrambles defenses, he has the potential to get there.

If Sheppard is the poor man’s Curry, Thompson can be the Rockets’ average man’s (?) Green. Sengun breaks the analogy, unless he’s like…a billionaire’s Andrew Bogut?

In theory, this trio should be able to buoy the Rockets after Durant. Surround them with shooters and defenders, and you’re good. Jabari Smith Jr. is already locked in on reasonable money. I have a recurring nightmare where Tari Eason leaves next summer, but that’s a subject for therapy. Otherwise, if Sheppard continues trending in the direction that he does, the Rockets have their future big three:

And they’re perfectly synergetic.

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/rocke...rd-unlocks-everything-for-the-houston-rockets

 

[Houston Rockets]

Houston Rockets vs. Cleveland Cavaliers game preview

The Houston Rockets take a four-game winning streak into Ohio to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Cleveland sits at second in the Eastern Conference, which is where most projections had them coming into the season. With a surprising Detroit team ahead of them, there’s an expectation that Cleveland will end up at the top of the East just like last season. They’re 10-5 despite only getting three games from Darius Garland and missing games from every player in the rotation besides Craig Porter Jr., who comes off the bench.

The Cavs are coming in on a two-game winning streak after wins over the Grizzlies and Bucks. They’ll lean on Donovan Mitchell for offense, with Sam Merrill and De’Andre Hunter taking the other shots from deep. Hunter, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen give them three good-to-great defensive players in the starting lineup. Off the bench are Porter Jr., Lonzo Ball, Dean Wade, and Nae’Qwan Tomlin. Obviously that would change if Garland and Jaylon Tyson are available.

The Cavs take more threes than anyone else. Meanwhile, the Rockets are at the bottom of the league in attempts. On the flip side, Houston is shooting them at a league-best percentage (42.6%) while the Cavs are 19th (35.1%). Defensively, the Cavs are susceptible to giving up free throws, which plays into Houston’s hands. So in the surprise of all surprises, this game will probably come down to three-point shooting and free throws. You’ve never seen that before, I know.

These teams will meet again on December 27 in Houston.

Tip-off​

6pm CT

How To Watch​

Space City Home Network, ESPN

Injury Report​

Rockets​

Tari Eason: OUT (leg)

Dorian Finney-Smith: OUT (ankle)

Cavaliers​

Darius Garland: GTD

Max Strus: OUT

Jaylon Tyson: GTD

The Line (as of this post)​

N/A

Check here for updates

Looking ahead because we can​

Friday night in Houston against the Denver Nuggets for the Falcon

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/rocke...n-rockets-vs-cleveland-cavaliers-game-preview

 

[Houston Rockets]

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Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/gener...-dream-shake-will-have-activity-notifications

 

[Houston Rockets]

Rockets Rattle To Win Over Cavaliers 114-104

This game didn’t look close at the end. It didn’t look close in the middle, but due to some spectacularly awkward play by the Rockets in the third quarter, it was close up until the end.

This was a game of extremes. Mostly extremes of baffling basketball and shooting dry spells. Both the Rockets and the Cavaliers had stretches of over 4 minutes, each, where they didn’t score a point. This isn’t easy to do in basketball, let along back to back, but they did it.

The Rockets subsequently built a 22 point lead, and then saw it slip away to 1 point in a memorably dismal third quarter. There are moments, sometimes many of them, when the Rockets largely guard-free, but mostly effective, offense just can’t get out of its own way. That was the third quarter. A festival of turnovers, overpassing, underpassing, missing bunnies, silly fouls that would seemingly never end.

The Rockets, as they saw their quarterly scoring go down in each the first three periods (1st -33pts, 2nd-24pts, 3rd-17pts) needed someone to step up. They needed a hero from off the bench. There was only one name to call. The obvious one: Aaron Holiday.

No, seriously, Holiday steadied the wheel, and got the floundering Rockets ship off the shoals of defeat. Aaron scored 18 point in 19 minutes, The Rockets almost certainly lose this game without him. Why?

Well, Kevin Durant had an off night shooting, going 6-18 and 1-6 from three. Not to worry though, he added 4 truly awful turnovers to the mix as well. He probably should have racked up more TOs, but some were blamed on teammates.

Teammates like Alperen Sengun, who shot it well, 10-17, for 28 points, with 11 boards and 7 assists. He added a robust 5 turnovers to that number as well. But there was more to his game than that, which we’ll get to eventually.

Amen Thompson, until late in the game did one thing really well – defend Donovan Mitchell, who is averaging 31pts per game this season, and hold him to 6 points for most of the game. He did another thing poorly, which is score. He missed bunnies, dunks, and layups at a great rate, until late. Later on Mitchell attacked the Houston zone, and broke it open. But in the end the Sunshine Superman only managed 18 points, mostly in the 4th, where the game got uncomfortably close. Fortunately, Amen started scoring, after at one point having close to as many steals as points.

Reed Sheppard looked good when he played, but sometimes cost the Rockets by gambling on steals he didn’t make, leading to easy points. Still, he’s turning into an extremely reliable catch-and-shoot player. Tonight he went 5-11 overall, and 2-5 from three, and showed a lot more confident attacking the rim.

In the end the player who clawed the game back, along with Aaron Holiday of course, was Alperen Sengun. The signature moments came late, when he was isolated at near mid court against Evan Mobley. In case you’ve forgotten, Mobley was the defensive player of the year last season. I’d argue Amen Thompson was a better defender, and perhaps Alpie helped make that case, as the two times he took the DPOY he either scored or was clearly fouled. Alpie scored 8 of the final 12 points for the Rockets, and in terms of the game being in doubt, 8 of 10.

Sengun made 8-10 from the free throw line overall tonight, and was 6-6 down the stretch. Fouling Alpie doesn’t work anymore. And if he left any doubt after toasting Giannis to seal the game late, Alpie stomped it out by taking Mobley to the basket in consecutive ISOs.

The Rockets didn’t play all that well tonight. They either looked great, or like a goat rodeo, with very little in between. They ended up winning by 10 anyway. Some may take that as a bad sign, but given that Cleveland is widely considered the top team in the East (though perhaps that’s Detroit right now), the Rockets are showing they can beat the best.

A stern test awaits them Friday against Nuggets in the NBA Cup. That should be a memorable battle, with perhaps the two best all around bigs in the NBA battling it out.

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/general/36846/rockets-rattle-to-win-over-cavaliers-114-104