The Houston Rockets have started the 2026-2027 NBA season with five straight victories, three of which came on the road.
Head coach Ime Udoka is back at the helm, with talents like Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, and Fred VanVleet looking to guide the group toward a deep postseason run.
While it may still be too early to determine whether or not the Rockets can make it out of an extremely competitive Western Conference, there are three specific outcomes that could certainly impact their ceiling when all is said and done.
Amen Thompson will take another step towards All-Star status
With time winding down against the San Antonio Spurs earlier this month, 23-year-old forward Amen Thompson made a key stop while guarding Victor Wembanyama that helped seal a gritty 114-110 victory.
“Just showing what I can do defensively. I can guard one through five. I think I’m one of the best defenders in the league,” Thompson told William Guillory of The Athletic. “Knowing that, (making All-Defense) is a goal for me every year.”
Such a play highlighted exactly why the California native has turned heads around the league, and it would not be surprising to see him take another leap overall. In particular, his offensive production could experience a boost.
Through the first five games of the campaign, Thompson has averaged 18.2 points, 8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists while shooting around 56 percent from the field and 33 percent from distance.
Last year, the former first-round pick averaged a career high in 3-point attempts. One could argue that this number will go up again this season, especially if his confidence continues to blossom.
The Rockets will finish as a top-three team in the Western Conference
It is no secret that the newest NBA season has included several devastating injuries to star players. As far as the Western Conference is concerned, the Oklahoma City Thunder are expected to be without Jalen Williams for the rest of the year after he suffered a dislocated left ankle and fractured fibula. Further, the Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards recently underwent a procedure on his right knee and is expected to miss up to two months.
The Rockets have been able to avoid the injury bug to this point, and even if an older player such as Duran were to miss time, others like Thompson and Sengun are talented enough to weather the storm.
It is also important to note that others such as Reed Sheppard, Bogdan Bogdanović, Marcus Smart, and Tari Eason add a layer of depth that could make the Rockets a threat to win games against Western Conference squads that are more reliant on their starting unit.
Early stats show that the Rockets have not utilized their bench much compared to other teams, but some of this could be attributed to Udoka attempting to let the starters mesh properly before adding more wrinkles.
Article Continues BelowThe Rockets will win at least one round in the NBA Playoffs
The Los Angeles Lakers eliminated the Rockets in the first round last postseason, but one could easily envision Houston making a deeper run this season.
VanVleet did not compete last season due to a torn ACL and was not a part of the starting contingent. Further, additions like Smart and Bogdanović provide aspects of veteran grit that could make them more prepared for the postseason.
While the Thunder, Spurs, and Timberwolves may have a reasonable chance to win the conference, it is unlikely that the Rockets would see one of these opponents in an opening round.
If Houston wins a round and gets hot at the right time, a Western Conference Finals appearance is not out of the question.