As I watch the Houston Rockets navigate this crucial stretch of the NBA season, I can't help but reflect on what separates playoff contenders from pretenders. Having followed this team through both championship runs and rebuilding years, I've developed a keen sense for the subtle shifts that signal genuine transformation. This season feels different somehow - there's an energy around this young squad that reminds me of those promising teams from the early 2010s, though they're still sitting outside the playoff picture with a 35-38 record as of this writing.
The first factor that could completely flip their season is Jalen Green's recent offensive explosion. I've never seen a Rocket improve so dramatically this late in a season - he's averaging 28.4 points on 48% shooting over his last 15 games. When a young player finds that kind of rhythm, it changes everything about how defenses prepare for you. I remember watching James Harden's similar leap back in 2014-15, and while Green isn't at that level yet, the trajectory feels familiar. His ability to maintain this scoring efficiency while still developing his playmaking will determine whether Houston's offense can keep pace with Western Conference powerhouses.
Then there's Alperen Şengün's development into a legitimate offensive hub, which I believe is happening faster than anyone anticipated. The Turkish big man is putting up numbers we haven't seen from a Rocket center since Hakeem Olajuwon, averaging 21.3 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.1 assists before his ankle injury. What impresses me most isn't just the stat line but how he's commanding double teams and making reads that typically take big men years to master. His health down the stretch might be the single biggest variable in their playoff equation.
The defensive identity Coach Ime Udoka has instilled deserves more credit than it's getting nationally. I've watched this team go from 29th in defensive rating last season to 10th this year - that's one of the most dramatic single-season improvements I've witnessed in over a decade covering the league. The acquisitions of Dillon Brooks and Fred VanVleet brought much-needed veteran presence, but it's the buy-in from younger players that has me most optimistic. There's a pride developing in this group that reminds me of that quote from their recent team meeting about not wanting to be disrespected - that mentality shift is tangible when you watch them compete night after night.
Speaking of that team pride, I'm struck by how much their recent success ties into that concept of not accepting disrespect. When a player mentioned "pride na rin kasi ayoko na nababastos yung team namin," it perfectly captures the chip-on-shoulder mentality that's fueling this surge. I've seen it before with underdog teams - once they stop seeing themselves as young and inexperienced and start believing they belong, the results can change almost overnight. That psychological shift might be worth 3-4 additional wins down the stretch, which could be the difference between playing in May or watching from home.
Finally, the Western Conference's unexpected parity works in their favor. With teams like Phoenix and Golden State struggling with consistency and New Orleans dealing with injuries, the play-in tournament remains realistically within reach. The math is still challenging - they likely need to finish around 9-2 in their remaining games - but the opportunity exists. Having covered the NBA through multiple eras, I can tell you that late-season surges often come down to which teams still believe they have something to prove. This Rocket squad clearly does, and that belief, combined with their tangible improvements on both ends, makes them the most fascinating team to watch as the regular season concludes.