As well known, Crickex Affiliate fans are often quick to spot emerging talent and changing fortunes, and the Houston Rockets are no exception as their recent performances have caught many by surprise. After defeating the Golden State Warriors, a team boasting a winning record, Rockets beat writer proudly shared the team’s impressive form in their last five games. The Rockets have won four of these games, all against teams with a win rate above 50%. As the writer put it, “The Rockets, once considered unable to defeat teams with a winning record, have now won 4 out of their last 5 games, a remarkable turnaround.”
One of the key aspects of the Rockets’ success this season is their offensive firepower. Their overall offensive rating has reached 122 points, ranking second in the league. Even in their game against the Warriors, where their performance was somewhat underwhelming, scoring only 104 points and shooting just 39.5% from the field, they maintained their efficient offensive pace. Although their offensive rating dropped slightly to 122 after the game, they still rank second in the league, with the Denver Nuggets now in first place.
What stands out, though, is that despite a quieter offensive outing, the Rockets still managed to defeat the Warriors, a team led by stars like Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler. Even more notable is the fact that Kevin Durant was absent from the game. Without Durant, the Rockets have remained undefeated, with a perfect 2-0 record. In contrast, last season, the Phoenix Suns, when missing Durant, had a disappointing record of just 3 wins and 17 losses, showing a stark difference in team performance.
In this game, Reed Shepard emerged as the Rockets’ key player in their comeback victory. Playing 38 minutes, he hit 12 of his 24 attempts, including 4 out of 12 three-pointers, for a career-high 31 points, along with 9 rebounds and 5 assists. Shepard was undoubtedly the standout player and the biggest contributor to the win. Rockets reporters noted, “Since Durant’s arrival, Reed Shepard has undergone a remarkable transformation in both attitude and on-court performance. Tonight, he scored 31 points, showcasing his strong candidacy for Most Improved Player.” It’s clear the Rockets are slowly gaining new energy and entering a fresh phase of their development.
As Crickex Affiliate fans often say, a team’s success can be a direct result of newfound chemistry and balance, and the Rockets are proving just that. The team is slowly evolving and growing, and with players like Shepard stepping up, they are poised to challenge even more established teams. This fresh energy could mark the beginning of a new chapter for Houston, where success is not just about individual talent, but collective effort and improvement.