Eight thousand miles from Houston, the Rockets’ preseason game against the Mavericks in Macao offered a glimpse of a team trying to change its identity. Fred VanVleet, just back from an ACL tear, moved with surprising agility, drawing defenders before passing to Alperen Şengün for a contested three-pointer that missed. Jabari Smith Jr. grabbed the offensive rebound and fed Kevin Durant, who drew defenders before finding VanVleet again for a corner three. This one went in.
The game itself held little consequence, but it revealed a shift in Houston’s approach. After two straight first-round playoff exits, head coach Ime Udoka has pushed the Rockets to speed up their game and rely less on brute force. “It’s been fun,” VanVleet told Yahoo Sports. “We didn’t get a chance to do it last year, this is what it was supposed to look like before. Coach laid out the philosophy of what we want to do, and we’ve done a heck of a job, better than I expected, in terms of our intention.”
Udoka’s evaluation came after the Rockets’ physical defensive style failed to carry them deep into the postseason. Injuries and a lack of playoff experience hurt, but the offense’s sluggish pacing was an issue. Last season, Houston ranked seventh in offensive efficiency but often took late-clock, contested shots. “The pace, for sure,” Udoka said during the preseason. “We definitely have to play faster. When we did run [last season], we were the No. 1 team in the first six seconds of the shot clock, better than the best offense, and we were the worst in the last six seconds and took the most late-clock shots. You want to increase the pace, get up more 3s and touch the paint.”
The numbers back up Udoka’s concerns. Houston ranked 28th in average time to shoot and dead last in early shot attempts, defined as between 18 and 15 seconds on the shot clock. Their effective field goal percentage on these shots was middling at best. The team’s 3-point rate stood at 26th in the league, and their rate of shots at the rim was 18th. This suggested an offense that often relied on breakdowns rather than clean looks.
Udoka has emphasized the team’s athleticism to push the pace. Guards like VanVleet, Marcus Smart, and rookie Reed Sheppard are expected to handle the ball and drive faster offensive actions. Houston’s preseason pace was 103.83 possessions per 48 minutes, which would have ranked second in the NBA last season behind only Miami. Sheppard said he enjoyed the shift. “I love it,” he told Yahoo Sports. “I like playing fast, shooting a lot of 3s. It’s been good to get out there and get going again.”
The Rockets’ offseason additions reflect this new mindset. Smart and Bogdan Bogdanović bring ball-handling and shooting ability, helping to spread the floor. VanVleet cited these players as reasons for improved offensive balance. “You get two ball-handlers,” Smart said. “Two guys who can make plays not just for themselves but for others. It allows others to just get out and run.”
Durant’s return from injury also factors into Houston’s plans. While he missed much of last season’s playoff run, his ability to draw defenders opens space for teammates. Second Spectrum data shows Durant and Amen Thompson ranked in the top 50 for time of possession last season, with Şengün close behind.
Improving shot quality remains a focus. The Rockets finished last season with the third-lowest shot quality in the league, according to PBPStats. Conversations between the coaching staff and players have centered on generating cleaner looks both at the rim and beyond the arc. Udoka stressed listening to players’ input as part of this process. “They have opinions about certain things that work and you listen to those,” he said. “They’re always on point with what they see and like to do. You want to play fast, not have to sit back and call plays and take the tempo out of the game. You may have to live with a few more turnovers here and there, but it outweighs it when you play with pace.”
After a 113-89 preseason win over the Thunder, the Rockets showed signs of this faster, more fluid style coming together. With VanVleet, Smart, Bogdanović, and Durant healthy, Houston hopes to shed its reputation as a slow, physical team and compete among the Western Conference contenders. The focus on pace and teamwork is clear, but only the regular season will reveal how far the Rockets have come.
According to Yahoo Sports.
