Last Week:11
2023-24 record: 41-41
OffRtg: 113.7 (20) DefRtg: 112.8 (10) NetRtg: +0.9 (18) Pace: 99.6 (13)
Key addition(s): Reed Sheppard
Key departure(s): N/A
Three numbers to know:
The Rockets were the league’s most improved team (from 2022-23 to ’23-24) in regard to winning percentage, point differential per 100 possessions, and points allowed per 100 possessions.
They had the league’s biggest disparity between their record at home (27-14, tied for eighth best) and their record on the road (14-27, 22nd).
The Rockets are the league leader in continuity, with returning players accounting for 97% of their 2023-24 minutes. Their top 12 players in total minutes played are back in uniform.
Key question: Is the offense-for-real?
The Rockets’ overall improvement last season was mostly about their defense, which they established early. But while the league overall was much worse offensively – 113.1 points scored per 100 possessions after the All-Star break compared to 115.2 before the break – last season, the Rockets were better. After ranking 23rd offensively before the break at 113.2, they ranked 15th after it at 114.5, the fourth biggest jump in points scored per 100 possessions.
The improvement came courtesy of a drop in turnovers and a jump in offensive rebounding percentage from the players you’d hope it would come from. Jalen Green and Amen Thompson combined for a true shooting percentage of 57.5% (right at the league average) post-All-Star break, up from 53.2% (well below the league average) pre-All-Star break. That would keep them from tying the longest playoff drought in franchise history – five years – if they can pick up where they left off or get better after a summer of work.
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