Numbers reveal the Rockets' superior defense among the elite

The Houston Rockets are quickly establishing themselves as a dominant force in the Western Conference. With a talented young core that continues to show improvement under coach Ime Udoka, they are becoming known for their elite defensive prowess.

One area where the Rockets have stood out is their rebounding prowess. Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr. are above-average rebounders, and they also have physical players who aren’t afraid of crashing the boards, such as Steven Adams, Tari Eason, Dillon Brooks and Amen Thompson. This has contributed to the Rockets being the best rebounding team in the NBA by a wide margin.

The Rockets are averaging 50 rebounds per game following Wednesday’s 122-115 overtime victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. They’re on pace for the second-highest rebounding average since 2019-20, when the Milwaukee Bucks grabbed 51.7 boards per game.

Houston is in second place in the Western Conference with a 14-6 record and has won four of its last five. Five of the rotation players are 22 or younger, and the Rockets are posting the second-best defense in the NBA.

Since Ime Udoka took over in Houston, the Rockets’ winning percentage has risen to 53.9%. To put things into perspective, Houston had a winning percentage of only 24% between 2019 and 2023.

A marked consistency in the starting lineup and steady minutes in the rotation have allowed Houston to trot out virtually the same starting five in each game. Udoka has been wise about not changing things that are working. The three-man lineup of Brooks, Sengun and Thompson has both the best defensive rating and net rating in the NBA when factoring in at least 100 minutes played together. Sengun’s impact has been substantial as he’s managed to build on his 2023-24 breakout season to establish himself as one of the best big men in the league. 

In the 117-111 overtime win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night, Sengun and Thompson became the first pair of Rockets teammates with 3+ blocks and 3+ steals in the same game since Hakeem Olajuwon and Robert Horry (1992). 

There’s no question the future is bright in Houston. And perhaps the most scary thing is that this core has yet to reach the ceiling of its full potential.