3 keys to turning the Houston Rockets’ woeful season around

Houston Rockets: Play some defense!

Although the Rockets’ failure to give up good shots in favor of great ones is a problem, a more urgent issue is their lack of commitment to defense. The team is allowing their opponent to pour in 116.0 points per game, the 25th-worst ranking in the league. Even in the high-scoring atmosphere of the modern NBA, allowing that many points on a nightly basis is a recipe for disaster.

Equally revealing is their opponents’ shooting percentage. Teams are shooting 47.9 percent from the field against the Rockets, which is also the 25th-worst ranking in the NBA. For the sake of comparison, there are currently four teams in the league that are holding their opponents to under 45 percent shooting from the field on a nightly basis. That gap of almost three percent may not seem like a lot initially, but when the volume of 3-point shots being attempted is factored into the equation, those points add up quickly and can turn into a deficit that is difficult to overcome.

The Houston Rockets are a team with several lottery picks on the roster who have yet to reach their full potential. While each of these players has shown flashes of brilliance, the team has yet to display the level of continuity it takes to win at the professional level. The team is guard-heavy, and a roster shakeup may be needed in order to bring some consistency to the offense.

However, if this team commits to passing the basketball, cutting down on turnovers, and playing defense, they have an opportunity to win some games and win over their fan base before the season is over.