Rockets Still Seeking Last Season’s Edge After Durant Deal
rockets-still-seeking-last-seasons-edge-after-durant-deal
The Houston Rockets thought they shortened their path to contention when they sent two players and a future top-10 pick to the Phoenix Suns for Kevin Durant. Midway through the season, head coach Ime Udoka is still trying to replace the physicality that departed with Dillon Brooks, even as Durant continues to score at an elite level.
Early surge, recent slide
Houston opened the campaign 16-6, but the intensity the club showed a year ago has been harder to reproduce. The roster is thinner after the trade and an ACL tear has sidelined Fred VanVleet all season, leaving Udoka to juggle lineups and ball-handling duties.
Durant has met expectations as a primary option, yet opposing defenses have focused on him late in games. When Houston is forced to look elsewhere for points, the offense often stalls, prompting internal discussions about adding depth before the trade deadline. A major move for a starting point guard is not expected.
Eason close to full clearance
Udoka told reporters that forward Tari Eason is “getting close” to playing without restrictions as he recovers from a right ankle sprain suffered in early January. Eason logged 28 minutes in Thursday’s overtime loss to Philadelphia, producing 13 points, nine rebounds and four steals. He sat out Friday’s win in Detroit for ankle management but is trending toward a regular workload.
Finney-Smith’s ramp-up slower
The coach cautioned that Dorian Finney-Smith needs more time to regain rhythm following offseason ankle surgery. Udoka compared the plan to last year’s gradual return for Steven Adams, who stayed below 15 minutes per game until March. Finney-Smith is averaging a career-low 15.5 minutes in 13 appearances and is shooting 28.6% from three, with 35 of his 44 attempts coming from beyond the arc.
Udoka downplays point-guard market
In an interview with ESPN, Udoka said he is not pressing the front office for a point-guard trade. “We’ve always been confident in our depth,” he said, citing Aaron Holiday, Jae’Sean Tate, and the development of rookies Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard. The staff wants both first-year guards to gain experience while awaiting VanVleet’s eventual return.
Inside-heavy attack, glass concerns
Houston enters the week with the league’s seventh-highest share of points in the paint and an efficient, if selective, three-point attack. Offensive-rebound production could dip after Adams suffered a Grade 3 ankle sprain. With the veteran center out, Udoka will lean on Clint Capela as the primary reserve behind starting center Alperen Şengün, while Jabari Smith Jr. is expected to log occasional minutes as a small-ball five.
At the halfway mark, both the Rockets and Suns appear satisfied with last summer’s blockbuster, though Phoenix holds a slight edge in the standings—only one game separates the two clubs. Houston now turns its focus to re-establishing its trademark grit while giving Durant the support he needs for a postseason push.
Source: Hoops Rumors
