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[Houston Rockets]

Rockets 2025-2026 NBA player previews: Kevin Durant

As we sit on the precipice of the 2025-2026 NBA season, our Player Preview series continues with the man who has Houston Rockets fans having visions of downtown parades dance in their heads, Kevin Durant. In a previous preview I stated that Reed Sheppard might be the most important Rockets player this season, as they search for a floor general they can trust in the absence of Fred VanVleet. While I stand by that sentiment, there is no doubt that Kevin Durant will be the most valuable man on the roster. Why so?

If the answer isn’t obvious… HE’S KEVIN DURANT! You know who he is. 30,571 points and counting. Baring something catastrophic, we will witness Durant pass Wilt Chamberlain, Dirk Nowitzki, and Michael Jeffery Jordan in total points scored. Meaning by seasons end, if all goes well, then only four, count them… four NBA players will have scored more points in NBA history, and if that happens, I can certainly guarantee that the Rockets will have won some games along the way.

How many games will they have won? That’s to be determined but Kevin Durant has already shown his value to this team, be it in a short sample size of the pre-season. In the preseason the Rockets averaged 130.8 points-per-game and 27.5 assists per game, which was good enough for 1st and 10th respectively. They shot 37.5 percent from the three-point line, the fourth-best in the preseason. If you think that doesn’t matter, I’ll remind you that the Rockets were 19th out of 30 teams last pre-season and they finished 21st at the end of the year.

While credit must be given to the coaches and the improvement of Alperen Sengun, who looks poised to have another All-Star season, and Amen Thompson is the odds-on favorite to win the Most Improved Player Award at +900, Kevin Durant on the floor changes everything. Alpie won’t see nearly as many double-teams when he’s on the floor with Durant, and with the spacing Durant provides Amen Thompson can have a field day driving down a wide-open lane or collapsing the paint and kicking it out to an open shooter. Even without Fred VanVleet, Kevin Durant’s presence on this team not only makes the players around him better, but it inspires hope for the fans.

Looming heavily over all of that optimism, is the concerns about health. No way to sugar coat it, Kevin Durant has played 70 games or more once in the last five seasons, and he’s only played more than 50 games twice. That has to be a concern. It is for me and for Rockets fans. For the Rockets brass? Well, as I type this article It came across my “X” feed that the Rockets have given Kevin Durant a 2-year $90 million contract extension. Given that he was eligible for a max $120 million extension, I’d say the Rockets played this smart. Even if disaster strikes, the Rockets team building flexibility won’t be completely wiped away, but why even put that Juju out there. It’ll be fine!

Durant was eligible for a max extension of $120M, but understood when he chose the Rockets as a trade destination that he'd be sacrificing money – in this case around $30M less – so that the sides can partner for the long term and give the franchise team-building flexibility. https://t.co/ggH5xvT6mA

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 19, 2025

If all goes well, for the next two seasons at least the Rockets will be able to count on Kevin Durant’s 25+ points per game, 50-percent shooting from the field, 40- percent shooting from the three-point line, and 85+ percent shooting from the free-throw line. Hopefully, what that will mean is games won, top four playoff positioning, and lots of postseason success. That hope is what makes this the most anticipated NBA season for Rockets fans since the sign-and-trade that brought Chris Paul to Houston. May our fingers stay crossed, and our hamstrings remain stretched in the pursuit of a much happier ending to the Kevin Durant era of Houston Rockets basketball.

Kevin Durant is a two-time champion, two-time NBA Finals MVP, and one of the 75 greatest players to ever pick up a basketball. He has nothing to prove to anyone. However, on October 21st he will witness the franchise that drafted him hang their very first championship banner in the rafters of the house that he, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, and Serge Ibaka built, and he will do so with his former Sonics / Thunder teammate and fellow draft-mate Jeff Green by his side again. What an incredible full circle moment, and my hope is that perhaps that professional pride that has burned in his chest his entire career, is given just enough extra fuel to push him to want to be the one hanging his own banner this time next year in Toyota Center.

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/houst...men-thompson-reed-sheppard-contract-extension

 

[Houston Rockets]

Rockets Fall To Pistons 115-111 To Go 0-2 On The Season

If the OKC game was exciting, frustrating and encouraging in equal measure, this game was pure frustration. The Rockets have started the year playing two “Can’t Call ‘Em All” defenses, though Detroit is actually a more extreme version. An average Sengun or Amen game is a Rockets win. They had something considerably worse. Tonight’s reverse beauty pageant saw the Rockets shoot a whopping 48 free throws in a game that ended in regulation time. They made 37 of them, so that’s a positive to take away.

The negatives to take away were that several Rockets just had fairly awful games overall, and particularly on offense. They were, in no particular order, Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Reed Sheppard, to a lesser extent Jabari Smith.

Keven Durant, despite some awkwardness on offense did NOT have a bad game. He did exactly what he was brought in to do. Durant played only 28 minutes. He scored 37 points on 9-18 shooting and 16-18 free throws. Josh Okogie also had a good game.

A couple of Rockets concepts also had bad games. One was the double big lineup. The other was constant zone defense. When the Rockets play double bigs they expect to control the paint and to win the rebounding battle decisively. They did neither. They barely edged Detroit on the offensive glass, despite Jalen Durren getting ejected early on, and Isaiah Stewart fouling out. The Pistons were also perfectly prepared to exploit the zone, and did so successfully, heading into the heart of it for easy looks or passes. If we see more such preparation the Rockets should probably do what they’ve built their roster to do – one big, Sengun, and a bunch of wings.

Another concept that took a hit is “No guards.” Whatever your assessment of Reed Sheppard, the Rockets desperately need someone, anyone, to organize the offense and be able to do guard things. Tonight he really didn’t do that. He took ill advised shots, and missed. He took some advised shots and missed. He made some good passes, that lead to misses. He was a target on defense, and he is going to be, and he literally has to be, given the other players. He’s going to have to learn to deal with it, and it’s going to be a baptism of fire. When the game came to him, on open three pointers, he cashed them. It’s not all bad, and he’s far from the only Rocket to look slightly awful tonight.

The only way out for Reed and the Rockets is through, as there isn’t really an alternative, and again, the Rockets desperately require some guard play. Things you don’t notice guards doing, don’t get done. For example, someone coming back for an inbounds pass, or going to help get the ball from a Rocket who has gone to the ground. That’s not what forwards do, and so far, that’s nothing something Amen Thompson does.

That’s guard stuff, and right now, no one does it. A player who did all those little things almost flawlessly was Fred VanVleet (some bigger things, not as well). They also miss Fred’s general game awareness and being the signal caller for the defense. No one is really doing it, and it shows. Reed can’t do this because he’s just not experienced enough. Fred VanVleet was still in college at Reeds age, his first season was age 22, which will be Reed’s third, and his age 22 year was nothing to write home about.

Sengun’s utter brilliance in OKC was contrasted by a stinker in this one. He went 5-18 overall. He missed easy shot, and he pressed himself into bad shots with a defense swarming around him. I don’t really fault players for missing good shots, but that’s generally not what happened here. He missed bad shots and ill advised attempts. Because he’s still a star, he had 7 boards, 7 assists and 3 steals. One problem we’re seeing is that the Sengun who was the hub for Turkey in EuroBasket didn’t do his work from the three point line. He initiated closer to the basket, so that he can be a dual threat to score or pass. He didn’t have to drive so much into a set defense to get shots. The problem with this is – who will get the entry pass to him to set up there?

Amen Thompson had a similarly bad night, both on offense and defense. He went to the line a lot, but that’s kind of a win for the opponent. He didn’t defend well, and recorded no steals or blocks. He doesn’t seem to recognize mismatches where he should just drive and cook his opponent. This was especially evident late, when Detroits bigs had fouled out, and he had the large, but much slower, Cade Cunningham defending him, and wouldn’t simply attack, despite lots of space to do it.

Tari Eason was fine. He wasn’t really a problem, and he wasn’t really an asset. Josh Okogie was good.

If I have two major concerns after tonight here they are.

One. The offensive scheme. The same old stuff from last season will not work. There aren’t any guards. Tonight the Rockets could have really, truly, used a Jalen Green dribble, dribble, drive and score or offensive rebound. I don’t miss Jalen, but it’s very easy to clog up the Rockets already nearly moribund offensive actions with no real initiators on the court. (Amen is going to have to do something besides pass on the move to get a “PG” rating for me.) They need to find ways to get easier looks. Yes, Durant can gouge out points from nothing, but so far, that’s not enough. The Rockets need to get creative. On offense. This may not be possible for an Ime Udoka team, which puts a real ceiling on how good he is.

They need to shoot more threes. Detroit shot 39 threes, and made 16 of them, for 41%. The Rockets shot only 22, and while they made 10, that’s just too much trading 2 for 3.

The Rockets didn’t start out well last season, and they have much more to work out right now. It’s not time to panic, as a few wins cure a lot of problems. The things that the Rockets aren’t doing can all be ironed out, and players can grow and improve in new roles, or just generally grow and improve. But it won’t happen quickly. We all need to be prepared to have a bit of patience. Like it or not, it’s what’s on the menu.

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/rocke...ll-to-pistons-115-111-to-go-0-2-on-the-season

 

[Houston Rockets]

Rockets Open At Home Versus Detroit Pistons

A Thompson.

Houston Rockets vs Detroit Pistons​

October 24, 2025 @ 7pm CST​

Location: Toyota Center, Houston, Texas

TV: Space City Home Network

Online: Rockets App

Gametime:7 PM CST

Probable Starting Lineups​

Rockets: A. Thompson, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun, Steven Adams

Pistons: Cade Cunningham, Duncan Idaho, A. Thompson, Toby Harris, Jalen Durren

A battle of brothers. A house divided. A basketball game.

Go Rockets.

Commence to commenting below.

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/rockets-game-threads/36372/rockets-open-at-home-versus-detroit-pistons

 

[Houston Rockets]

Houston reportedly offered Tari Eason $100 million extension

Monday at 6:00pm was the deadline for rookie players in the 2021 draft class to sign extensions before entering free agency. Unfortunately, Houston was only able to secure an extension for forward Jabari Smith Jr. and not forward Tari Eason, but perhaps there’s more to the situation than meets the eye.

There was mutual interest between Houston and Tari Eason, but both sides were unable to agree to an extension. According to Brian Windhorst, Tari was offered an extension and he said it was “A strong offer. It was an excess of $100 million, but I don’t know how much of that would have been guaranteed,”

My guess is Rafael Stone offered Tari an extension similar to the one Kevin Porter Jr. signed. For those who may not remember the Kevin Porter Jr. contact, it was a four-year $82.5 million contact, but only the first year was fully guaranteed. This was because although Porter jr. was talented, his off the court issues and attitude raised questions to fans and front offices alike.

Obviously, the circumstances for Tari are different, but I can imagine that the contract had partial guarantees with more money being paid if Tari reached a certain amount of games played. Tari Eason was an iron man in his rookie season playing all 82 games, but in the following season Eason played just 22 games before having season ending surgery leg surgery in March due to a previously benign growth on his left shin becoming symptomatic after Eason was bumped there during preseason. Eason returned to the lineup in January of the following season, but was on a minutes restriction and did not play back-to-backs, which led him to play only 57 games in the 2024-2025 season. Although it’s widely regarded that Eason’s injury was somewhat of a freak accident it has caused teams to question his long-term durability.

What do you think? Should Eason have taken the extension, or is it too hard to judge him without knowing the numbers on the contract? While I’m disappointed no deal got done, I truly wish the best for Tari in his career, whether he ends up staying a Rocket or not. You can catch Eason and the rest of the team tonight at 7:00pm versus the Detroit Pistons for Houston’s home opener.

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/rocke...edly-offered-tari-eason-100-million-extension

 

[Houston Rockets]

Houston Rockets vs. Brooklyn Nets game preview

The Houston Rockets are 0-2.

That’s not what most fans expected, but it’s not cause for concern yet. The Rocekts hung tough in Oklahoma City against the champs and then (everyone but Kevin Durant) had a poor offensive night against the Pistons.

Things are looking up, though, because the Brooklyn Nets are coming to town on the second night of a back-to-back. The Nets are 0-3, but they’ve made big comebacks against the Cavs (cut a 25-point deficit to 1 with four minutes left) and Spurs (cut a 26-point deficit to 1 with under three minutes left). Neither ended in a win, but they speak to Jordi Fernandez’s coaching tactics and the ability of Cam Thomas and others on the roster to get buckets. Obviously, Rockets fans remember that the Nets swept Houston last year.

This was always going to be a difficult early stretch for Houston once the Fred VanVleet injury happened. Houston has to figure out how to run their offense differently on the fly, and the early returns haven’t been great. Still, the Rockets have to keep working on it because realistic options are few and far between. The easiest and most convenient solution are the same: the Rockets figure it out and Reed Sheppard makes enough of a jump to remain on the court. And the best way to make that a reality is to give the team reps until success or failure is obvious.

So tonight is another test against an inferior opponent. Houston doesn’t own Brooklyn pick this year so there’s no added incentive to win. But sometimes winning is enough.

Tip-off​

7pm CT

How To Watch​

Sports City Home Network

Injury Report​

Rockets​

Dorian Finney-Smith: OUT (ankle)

Nets​

Haywood Highsmith: OUT

Drake Powell: GTD

Ziaire Williams: GTD

Danny Wolf: GTD

The Line (as of this post)​

N/A

Check here for updates

Looking ahead because we can​

Wednesday night in Toronto against the Raptors

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/rocke...houston-rockets-vs-brooklyn-nets-game-preview

 

[Houston Rockets]

Should Rockets fans be concerned after an 0-2 start?

The Houston Rockets are 0-2 after a double-overtime loss to the champs on opening night in OKC, and a rather disappointing 115-111 loss to the Detroit Pistons in the Rockets home opener. It’s obviously early in the season but, should Rockets fans be concerned about this team moving forward? Well, let’s access the negatives and the positives of the first two games and decide when the dust is settled, which is more likely to be a trend.

The Negatives​

1. Ball Handling​

The Rockets do not have a “traditional point guard” on the roster after losing Fred VanVleet for the season. To be fair, most teams don’t have a “traditional point guard”, as the position has changed significantly over the years. What I should say is the Rockets lack a primary ball handler to get them into their half-court offensive sets. Amen Thompson is the most athletic option, but his assist to turnover ratio is 1:1. Alperen Sengun is one of the few bigs in the league with the ability to bring the ball up the court, but anytime he’s met with pressure things get dicey and the Rockets usually end up with about nine seconds on the shot clock before they have even gotten into their action.

Kevin Durant is an excellent ball handler for his size, but he is 37 and the Rockets don’t want that kind of workload on him, considering his extensive injury history. Reed Sheppard has the ability to be a primary ballhandler, however he seems to not feel very confident in that role. He currently has more turnovers (5) than assists (4) and his answer to being pressured seems to be, throw the ball away or shoot from wherever he is on the court. We have yet to see Aaron Holiday take the court this season, and while not a traditional point guard himself, it would seem prudent to give him a look at least. The truth is there is no definitive answer to this question mark on this team. The Rockets have admitted as much that it is a work in progress. They will have to figure it out with the players on the roster as they have no remaining cap space to add a player. If that is to happen it would have to be via trade, but that can’t happen until after December 15.

2. Defense​

My concern for the Rockets defense goes back to the pre-season, and some worrisome trends have continued over the last two games. The Rockets did not guard the three-point line consistently in the pre-season, even with their “defensive lineups” in the game. The Rockets can boast a historically tall starting lineup, but tall isn’t always an advantage. The Rockets have tall players who are athletic and quick… and here comes the caveat… for their size. They slow when teams decide to put smaller and quicker on the floor who are able to penetrate the Rockets zone defense. Of the 16 three-pointers the Pistons hit in Friday’s home opener, 14 of them were assisted. The Pistons overall shot 46.7 percent from the floor including 41 percent from three. The Thunder only shot 25 percent from three in the season opener, but many of those shots were wide open. The Rockets through two games rank 16th in defense giving up 120 points-per-game. We will have to keep a close eye on if this continues.

3. Down the stretch​

In the fourth quarter of the Thunder game, execution became an issue once Amen exited the game with cramps. Aside from lack of execution offensively, the Rockets have been outrebounded in critical moments in both games. Rebounding is supposed to be the strength of their big lineup. The Rockets severely outrebounded the Thunder overall in the game, but gave up 12 offensive rebounds, and were out rebounded against the Pistons 61-57, giving up 15 offensive rebounds, and were unable to grab crucial rebounds in the fourth quarter. Combine these factors with some untimely turnovers, missed free-throws, and that’s how you start the season 0-2.

The Positives​

Kevin Durant​

Wouldn’t you know it? Kevin Durant is a bucket which is exactly what we thought he would be. Averaging 30 points-per-game on 52.9 percent shooting including 42.9 percent from the three-point line and 87.5 percent from the free-throw line. There really is nothing to complain about other than a couple untimely misses from the line. The Rockets could stand to get him the ball more frequently in crunch time, but that’s not really a KD problem. Keep him healthy and as we expected he is the answer to the Rockets need for instant offense.

Free-Throw Shooting​

The Rockets have gone to the free-throw 79 times this season and have made 64 of them for 81 percent. It’s not just KD either. Alperen Sengun, who is a career 70 percent free-throw shooter, is 17-of-21 from the line, Amen Thompson is 8-of-12. Even Steven Adams is shooting 5-of-6 for 83 percent. It’s a very small sample size, but this trend will go a long way toward adding some digits to the win column.

Help is on the Way​

With the issues on defense, we can’t ignore that the man you signed to replace Dillon Brooks has yet to okay a game this season. Dorian Finny-Smith is the key “3-and-D” player that just could fix the Rockets issues on perimeter defense. When he comes back, a rotation of Finney-Smith, Tari Eason, Josh Okogie, and maybe a sprinkle of Jae’Sean Tate occasionally, should improve the Rockets overall defense.

Time for Panic or Patience?​

With the team as constructed being so new, there is definitely room for improvement as far as chemistry is concerned, and that is what Rockets fans should keep in mind before panic sets in. The Rockets don’t need to be playing their best ball in Octoberi. In the Western Conference, making the playoffs is the goal, and with the conference being so stacked, where you seed really doesn’t matter, as was proved by the Rockets first-round exit last season. Whether the Rockets ride out their issues and try to develop Reed Sheppard into a viable option as a ball handler, or they decide a move needs to be made later in the year, there is still much reason for optimism. Ime Udoka has shown he knows how to identify and correct holes in his teams play. What is going well is sustainable, and what isn’t going well is fixable, one way or another. So, let’s hang in there TDS faithful. A lot of season left.

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/rocke...-sengun-amen-thompson-reed-sheppard-ime-udoka

 

[Houston Rockets]

Rockets Rout Nets 137-109

Like a cold glass of iced tea (Unsweetened, what are you, from the deep south? Be a proper Texan.) on a hot Houston day, this game was the refreshment Rockets fans were craving. No more 1 point double overtime losses in OKC on their senior ring and letter jacket night, no more Jerry Sloan Rides Again Detroit Pistons, with one ejection, two foul outs, 31 personal fouls and 48 Rockets free throws that somehow became a 4 point loss.

This, like the ice tea was easy to drink in large amounts and all the more welcome for it. We can only thank Pep Guardiola (some call him Jordi Fernandez) and all 5 Nets first round picks, and Cam Thomas – the lazy man’s James Harden, for it. I’ll treat Pep to a combo plate of cheese enchiladas to go with his tea for the generosity of the Brooklyn Nets tonight.

How generous were they? 137 points generous, and the whole fourth quarter was pretty much garbage time. So it turns out that context might matter, especially when you only have two data points. Now we have three games in the books, and as we have only about 96% of the season yet to play, we can definitely draw strong conclusions.

Alright, we can’t. But we can make observations. Or I can, here, and you can below in the comments.

1. -If the first three games of the Rockets season (and a couple more I’ve watched) are any indication, the NBA would like defense to be a touch less physical overall. Thunder vs Pacers featured 91 free throws. The Rockets shot 48 against Detroit. Tonight, despite there not being a ton of Brooklyn FT, most of them were, by the standards of last season, and every OKC game, pretty soft. This could mean a crackdown on physical play, it could mean it’s the first week of the season. It could mean nothing at all. Let’s hope it doesn’t mean a return to the pure foul baiting of a couple of years ago, with offensive players initiating all the contact, and shooting free throws.

2. I’m not sure the Rockets two big lineup is anything more than a sometime thing. But let’s not call it a gimmick or a meme just yet. One of the factors that made that lineup work was surprise. Nobody is surprised this season. In fact, Detroit was prepared to hunt and attack that lineup. You didn’t see this problem as much against OKC because they’re overall a small ball team, with two exceptions. Against Detroit, who is overall a big team, with a huge PG to boot, and also features a literal clone of Amen Thompson (and vice versa), it just didn’t work. It didn’t provide much of a rebound advantage, and the zone defense that accompanied it got cooked repeatedly by basically standard junior high zone attack offense.

This lineup further didn’t provide a big rebounding edge against Detroit and has moreover looked woeful in transition. The reason for this is, I think, adding Kevin Durant. For all the great things about Durant one thing he isn’t is fast, nor has he generally been a super connected defender. When he’s on the court with Adams, and Sengun, you’ve got two very slow to rotate and run players, and another big. Sengun is quite mobile – for a center. In sum, it’s just too many slow guys to make the double big work.

Tonight started out without Adams in the game, and the Rockets not playing the double big lineup. What happened? The Rockets lifted off on offense, and defense, too. Some of that might partly be due to…

3. Playing an actual guard sometimes. You may not always play games with the PG you want, you sometimes play with the PG you have. The point guard they have is Reed Sheppard. Tonight, in a slightly less brutal matchup, he showed why a many people (myself included) are big believers in Reed. Sure, not every opponent will be the Nets, but not every opponent will be the Thunder, or Ausar Thompson, either.

What we saw was a point guard doing his primary job, making life easier for the offense. In fact in his 24 minutes Reed had 8 assists against 2 turnovers (one of which was careless, one was bad luck) but in any case, 4 to 1 will play. He also went 6-11, and 3-7 from three. His range, and shooting threat, created a lot of space for the other Rockets, as did his ability to get mostly where he wanted on the court. He also just stripped Cam Thomas at mid court and went for the jam, which is fun. In this game he didn’t look like the seasoned PG the Rockets need, but he looked really good for a PG who has only played 700ish NBA minutes.

Reeds defense wasn’t perfect, but there weren’t any blow-bys either. He fought through screens or at least attempted to do that. He didn’t gamble on low probability steals, but he deflected balls, and convinced a number of ballhandlers they didn’t want to dribble near him. That is progress. He needs to stop picking up his dribble in weird spots, though.

Also returning to good graces tonight was

4. Tari Eason. This was a sea change from the first two games Eason played. Tari went for 22 points on 8-12 shooting, and 5-7 from three. He added 8 boards, an assist and a block, and generally went around being a menace. The shot looked really good, and defenses almost have to leave him open if the likes of Durant, Jabari and perhaps Reed Sheppard are on the court. More of this will get Tari paid. More shooting is very welcome.

5. Good game for Durant, though the kinks aren’t worked out on offense, or defense, the effort from Durant is mostly there. He scored 19 in 25 minutes. Mostly it is good to see his minutes load being low and that he can score a bunch of points when you might think he’s having a humdrum game.

6. Alpie had a return to form – 30 minutes, 7-11, 2-2 3pt, 5-5FT, 9 rbs, 6 ast, 1 stl for 21 points. He forced it less this game, and probably felt like he didn’t need to. Strong outing overall for Sengun.

7. Solid efforts from Jabari Smith, who looks stronger, more decisive and seems to have a more secure handle. At times he looked like a baby Durant, with his quick two dribble past an opponent into an easy middie.

8. Strong return to expectations for Amen Thompson as well. 5-10 shooting, 2-3 FT, 4 rb, 8ast, 1 stl, 0 TO. This game made me more hopeful than anything seen so far about the prospects of an Amen/Reed platoon as the primary ballhandlers. Jae’Sean Tate also got minutes which was nice to see, and seemed to knock a bit of rust off.

9. Steven Adams only played 16 minutes, but they were hugely impactful and effective. A plus minus of +30 in 16 minutes is strong, even if you hate single game plus/minus. This was more the dominant Adams of last season, enforcing his will in the paint, rather than struggling to rotate on defense.

10. Josh Okogie started, and at this point I’m pretty sure he’s Ime Udoka’s authorial insertion character. He did pretty well, even if he didn’t stuff the stat line. He plays a very awkward, but effective, offense. He made his open threes. He had a couple of steals, and is an absolute maniac with one on one defense. Sure, he got four fouls, but very few shooting fouls. He got his money’s worth in that regard in his 31 minutes. What he mainly did was speed up the Rockets defense, especially in transition and rotation, and unclog the paint to an extent. Until DFS returns I expect to see him start more (unless Reed keeps having games like this one).

11. The caveat to all this wonderfulness is that it’s the Nets, a team their owner suggested was tanking. That said, a 28 point win is the kind of thing a Rockets fan wants to see against such a team, and we saw.

12. Exhale.

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/general/36423/rockets-rout-nets-137-109

 

[Houston Rockets]

Fred VanVleet’s status for remainder of season seems uncertain

Fans and the media believed veteran point guard Fred VanVleet would miss the entire season after he tore his ACL during a Rockets scrimmage in the Bahamas.

The recovery period for athletes who have surgery for an ACL tear is approximately nine months. This implies that Fred wouldn’t be prepared for a comeback until after the 2025–2026 season was over if he took the typical amount of time to recover. Vanvleet hasn’t been officially ruled out by the rockets, though.

For the first time since sustaining the injury, Houston’s longtime starter at point guard interviewed reporters during Monday’s shootaround, which took place just hours before a game against the Brooklyn Nets.

Although VanVleet acknowledged that there was no set timetable, it was evident from his remarks that he is also leaving the possibility of a comeback open.

Fred’s comments include:

“No timeline. I finally ditched crutches after a couple weeks, and that was a big moment for me. Just being able to walk around and move around freely. But, I’m just taking it slow, and day by day. It’s definitely a week-by-week thing, and we’ll see where we’re at by the end of the year.

I’m chipping away at rehab every day, focusing on getting better, and ultimately planning towards a return.

It’s really slow right now, and it’s tough to be out. I know how much work I put in, and I know my role and what I mean to this team. The worst part is not being out there with the guys, and not being able to contribute, right now.“

VanVleet is still around the team and contributing in a non-playing capacity, with practices and shootarounds being an optimal time for the veteran to offer his guidance and perspective.

However this wasn’t the only news we heard regarding Fred on Monday. Kelly Iko for Yahoo Sports reported that Houston plans to file a disabled player exemption which would be worth roughly $12.5 million under the current CBA.

With point guard Fred VanVleet currently sidelined with a torn right ACL, the Houston Rockets plan to file for a Disabled Players Exemption, source told @YahooSports. Under the current CBA, the exemption would be equivalent to 50 percent of VanVleet’s $25 million salary.

— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) October 27, 2025

How the exception works is the Rockets can trade for or claim a player off waivers with a salary up to $12.5M + $100K (expiring contract or final year only), or they can sign a free agent to a one-year contract with the DPE at about $12.5M. However when Houston applies for the DPE it has to be approved by a league doctor who essentially decides if they think the disabled player will be fully recovered by July 15. Additionally with only $1.3 million left over from the current payroll of about $197.7 million, they are hard-capped at the first apron ($195.9 million) and cannot raise salaries above that without trading out more than they receive in order to stay below it. Unless they make room first by trade.

What do you think? Would you rather have Fred try to return in late March/April, or would you rather Houston try to apply for the DPE, and make some moves to be able to maximize it?

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/rocke...eets-status-for-remainder-of-season-uncertain

 

[Houston Rockets]

Amen Thompson just needs to be Amen Thompson

Amen Thompson is Schrodinger’s point guard. He is both a point guard and isn’t.

Through three games, the Rockets have begun prying open the box. So far, it looks like we’ve got a dead cat on our hands. Thompson has mostly not looked prepared for the responsibility of orchestrating an NBA team’s offense.

It’s a two-game sample size. No conclusions should be reached, but it would be fair to (softly) venture that Thompson might not be a point guard:

And that would be perfectly fine.

Rockets’ Amen Thompson is not looking the part of a point guard​

Thompson has been fine as a pick-and-roll ball-handler in 2025-26. He’s generating exactly 1.0 points per possession (PPP), which lands him in the 70.7th percentile.

It’s hard to find supporting stats in such a young season. That points to the fact that it’s too soon to conclude. It probably leads to the conclusion that this article is pointless, and perhaps validates the position that the 365-day-a-year sports writing cycle is antiquated:

But let’s be thankful for the platform we have.

Here’s another available stat: Through the first two games, Amen was averaging the same number of assists (3.0) as he was turnovers. That’s not good.

(Confession: I was unable to watch the last game. It started at 9:30 where I live, and I’m doing an internship to be a high school teacher, and anyway, get off my case. Surely we can all love the fact that the Rockets thrashed the Nets and Thompson had 8 dimes without turning it over, and simultaneously concede that the Nets’ roster is horrendous.)

I don’t know, guys! When he was drafted, Thompson was ostensibly a point guard. The suddenly win-hungry Rockets didn’t deploy him that way. They used him as an off-ball wing whose primary responsibilities came on defense. Thompson was a revelation – it looked like he’d be the best player in the NBA to play that (loose) role.

Here’s where it gets complicated. If Thompson has the potential to be a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate if he focuses on Defensive Player of the Year stuff, but he’s struggling to run point in Year 3, doesn’t it make sense to continue grooming him as a defensive wing?

Perhaps – but the Rockets need a point guard. So far, they’re splitting developmental reps between Thompson and Reed Sheppard. They’re effectively punting on the most important position in basketball in a year where they’d prefer to win a championship.

Something has to give.

Rockets need to let Thompson be Thompson​

So, get a point guard.

Alternatively, run more offense through Alperen Sengun. We’ve been there already. More Sengun usage and less Thompson usage should make for a better offense, but the Rockets will likely need one more reliable ball-handler as 2025-26 persists.

Thompson doesn’t need to be “a point guard”. He doesn’t need to be “not a point guard”, either. He’s a point forward. Thompson epitomizes the positionlessness of a positionless era.

In more concrete terms, that means attacking closeouts when they present themselves and either making a passing read or attacking the basket. Thompson can self-create within the flow of the offense. The Rockets shouldn’t design an excess of sets with Thompson earmarked as a primary ballhandler.

If he can do that, and otherwise spend his offensive energy cutting and setting screens, while continuing to be among the best defensive wings in the NBA, the Rockets have got a stud. Thompson will make All-NBA appearances with that job description. He’ll be an Andrei Kirilenko, or a rich man’s Gerald Wallace, or Grant Hill with 20% less offense and infinitely more defense.

(So, not Grant Hill).

It’s easy to get myopic about NBA roles. Let’s zoom out. Thompson had a 4.1 Box Plus/Minus (BPM) as a sophomore. That’s higher than plenty of NBA stars at the same stage of their careers. Whatever shape he takes, there will be a place for him.

His athleticism alone qualifies as a quantum event.

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/rocke...-amen-thompson-just-needs-to-be-amen-thompson

 

[Houston Rockets]

Rockets win a barn burner verses the Raptors 139-121

The Houston Rockets came into Toronto for an early tip off against the Raptors, and it was clear early on that defense was optional. The Rockets scored 30 or more points in every quarter and shot 57.5 percent from the field including 43.3 percent from the three-point line. Despite Josh Okogie being in the starting lineup for the second straight game, the Rockets struggled with perimeter defense themselves, allowing the Raptors to shoot 50.6 percent from the field and 52.5 percent from three.

The Toronto Raptors made 21 three-pointers in this game, totaling eight more than the Rockets, with Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram accounting for nine of them alone. The Raptors were able to get just about any look they wanted from behind the arc, which should be a major concern for Ime Udoka and Rockets fans alike moving forward. Despite the issues on defense, the Rockets dominated the game in several categories.

Houston outrebounded the Raptors 61-29, with 17 offensive rebounds leading to 15 second-chance points. While they didn’t start the double big lineup it was featured throughout the game and led to a 66-38 advantage in points in the paint for the Rockets. The ball movement was sloppy at times, as told by the 15 turnovers, but the Rockets did rack up 31 assists, and 27 fast break points. Kevin Durant continues to be a bucket, scoring 31 points on 11-of-19 shooting, including 4-of-8 from the three-point line. Jabari Smith Jr. had a strong showing with 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists, on 50 percent shooting from the field, hitting 4-of-9 from the arc. Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun each chipped in with 18 points each. All and all it was a positive step for the Rockets who get to .500 for the season at 2-2.

The Rockets are currently the number one ranked offense in the entire league (127.3). You read that correctly. They are the 22nd ranked defense (117.1had in mind). Probably not what Ime Udoka had in mind when training camp started, but the Rockets do have plenty of time to get it together on that end of the floor. Their next chance comes against the Boston Celtics on Saturday in Beantown. The game will be televised on Space City Home Network and can be heard on Sports Talk 790 KBME. Chat with your fellow TDS faithful here on The Dream Shake Game Thread.

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/rocke...-amen-thompson-alperen-sengun-jabari-smith-jr

 

[Houston Rockets]

Rockets set to battle the Raptors, eye second straight win

Houston Rockets vs Toronto Raptors​

October 29, 2025​

Location: Scotiabank Arena: Toronto, ON

TV: Space City Home Network

Online: Rockets App

Gametime: 5:30 PM CST

Probable Starting Lineups​

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

Raptors: RJ Barrett, Brandon Ingram, Immanuel Quickley, Scottie Barnes, Sandro Mamukelashvili

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/rocke...gunkevin-durant-amen-thompson-jabari-smith-jr

 

[Houston Rockets]

Five Out: Halloween tricks & treats for Rockets

Surprisingly few NBA Halloween pics around. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

The Rockets might not be doomed after all. Now standing at 2-2 with just under 5% of the season played, the Rockets season might not be a lost cause, and we know now the worst possible record is 2-80, rather than the previous “on pace” numbers of 0-82.

With All Hallows Eve, Samhain, or Halloween on our doorstep, I thought I might indulge in a bit of trick or treating. I’ll cover some tricks, or mischiefs small and large, we’ve seen from the Rockets now. Tomorrow, ere the sun sets on the turning of the year, I’ll offer a few treats for Rockets fans as well.

Trick One​

The Rockets are the highest scoring offense in the NBA, with an offensive rating of 125.2. They aren’t leading by much, but that is good for number one. Surely, you might think, this number is pace driven. The Rockets are scoring so much because they’re playing fast. They aren’t. In fact, the Rockets are 28th in pace, leading only the Celtics and Clippers. I suppose that’s a trick and a treat.

Trick Two​

The defensive rating isn’t great. The Rockets defense is currently ranked 19th overall. Some of this is partly a function of having a 37 year old Kevin Durant on the floor. Some of it is bad luck. Some of it is not defending the three point shot well. Some analysts believe that teams really can’t defend the three that well, and that opponent shooting percentage from three is an independent variable. It affects other variables, but is itself unchanged by them. Is this true? Maybe? What we do know is that opponents make more wide open threes than contested threes, and the Rockets are leaving a lot of wide open threes.

Trick Three​

The Two Big Lineup isn’t something you can run all the time. Detroit is a big team, and was ready for the lineup, and more or less wrecked it. Toronto looks like a big team in some respects, but lacks a real center right now, and doesn’t play big, and moreover isn’t that interested in offensive rebounding, or judging by appearance, rebounding generally. The two big lineup wrecked them. The Rockets won the rebounding battle 53-22. You’ll rarely see a more decisive edge in an NBA game.

Trick Four​

Positionless basketball may be more aspirational than anything else. It’s an easy thing to say, and a team may even seriously set out to do it. An NBA team, though, is comprised of various tasks that must be accomplished to achieve victory. Some of those are big, like defend, shoot, rebound, pass. Some are small, like be available for an inbounds pass, or help a player out who’s picked up his dribble, or who is on the ground with the ball, and can’t move lest he be called for traveling, or offer a safety valve for a player who dribbles himself into a box canyon. Those tasks are mostly done by guards. They are so very much a guard task that most Rockets, who with three exceptions, aren’t guards, just don’t do them. They can learn to do them, but those are the sorts of things that are “wired” into players who have more or less played the same way from a very young age. Forwards don’t really do those jobs, and right now, they aren’t getting done.

Trick Five ​

With the number one offense in the NBA, Ime Udoka probably isn’t going to change much of anything about the offense.

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/rockets-analysis/36498/five-out-halloween-tricks-treats-for-rockets

 

[Houston Rockets]

How the Rockets can turn Fred VanVleet into a valuable piece

The Houston Rockets’ most glaring need thus far has been at the guard spot. They’ve struggled mightily to bring the ball up the court.

They also don’t really have anyone who can run pick-and-roll action. Well, they do, but he’s out for the foreseeable future in Fred VanVleet.

On nights against teams like the Brooklyn Nets, it’s not an issue. But when facing legitimate contenders like the Oklahoma City Thunder and Detroit Pistons, it can be difficult to overcome.

But the Rockets can’t really solve this problem. Well, they can.

But it’s not easy. They can get a second-tier role player off someone’s bench quite easily. But it’s unknown if they’ll be true needle-movers long-term.

They can get a viable piece, also, by using VanVleet as salary ballast — to the tune of $25 million.

Which is tough for any contending team to have to punt on. Especially one facing the hard cap.

But Derrick White could be a viable fill-in for Houston. Even if he appears to be a diminished version of himself.

(Which isn’t true).

He’s just being asked to take on a role that he’s not fit for, as a top-level scoring option on a non-contender. He’s best suited as a role-playing glue guy on a title team.

He’s become one of the best defenders in the league years ago. And many thought he’d take the All-Star leap this season, with Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday out of the fold.

White is an underrated playmaker, especially when finding slashers or rollers to the rim. He’s averaged right around five assists per night for the last three seasons with the Boston Celtics.

And he’s a viable outside shooter as well, although you’d think otherwise based on this season (25 percent on 11 attempts). Some of that can be attributed to a wrist injury that he’s battling.

There’s enough data to negate this season’s showing. In fact, the last time he was on the floor, he made 40 percent of his triples on 10.8 attempts per contest in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

The Rockets would likely have to throw in a first-round pick (or two) to nab White from Boston, in addition to including VanVleet’s salary, which he’d have to sign off on, due to his implied no-trade clause.

But White would prove to be worth the haul relatively quickly, as Ime Udoka would know how to utilize him once more.

How do you want to see the Rockets replace VanVleet? Tell us over in The Feed. We’re taking any and all suggestions.

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/rocke...-can-turn-fred-vanvleet-into-a-valuable-piece

 

[Houston Rockets]

Houston exercises Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard team options

This Friday was the deadline for teams to pick up team options for rookie contracts.

Danielle Lerner of The Houston Chronicle announced that the Houston Rockets have exercised the team options for both third-year guard Amen Thompson and second-year guard Reed Shepard.

Both players are key pieces to the Rockets’ rotation, and by exercising their option, they will remain with Houston barring any transactions until the conclusion of the 2026-2027 NBA season. In the 2026-2027 NBA season, Sheppard, the third overall pick in 2024, will make $11.1 million, while Thompson, the fourth overall pick in the 2023 draft, will make $12.3 million in his option year. Although Houston picked up Thompson’s team option, he will still be looking for a long-term extension in the offseason. This is similar to how last October the Rockets picked up Jabari Smith Jr.‘s team option before signing him to an extension that offseason,

Due to the absence of point guard Fred VanVleet, Thompson and Sheppard took on larger roles this season. With an average of 33.5 minutes, 14.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 2.5 turnovers, Thompson has started every game for Houston at point guard. Sheppard is averaging 22.5 minutes, 10 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.8 turnovers. The Rockets are ranked 19th in the NBA for defensive rating (116), and they have the greatest offensive rating (125.2) after four games.

Althoguh Reed had a rocky rookie season where he was bouncing between the NBA and G League, this move shows that Houston is committed and views both Thompson and Sheppard as parts of their rotation and young core.

You can catch Thompson and Sheppard, along with the rest of the Rockets, on Space City Home Network or NBA League Pass Saturday at 7:00 as they travel to take on the Boston Celtics.

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/rocke...-amen-thompson-and-reed-sheppard-team-options