(Houston, January 6, 2026) — The Houston Rockets, currently 21-11, are finding their stride as a team with a fully healthy roster, despite a recent loss to the Dallas Mavericks.
The Rockets are demonstrating improved defensive play and a unique lineup flexibility as key players return from injury.
- The Rockets are 4-1 in their last five games, with the third-best Defensive Rating in the NBA over that stretch (109.2).
- The return of key players like Tari Eason and Dorian Finney-Smith is contributing to improved performance and lineup versatility.
- Unique lineup combinations, including those featuring Alperen Sengun, Kevin Durant, and Tari Eason, are showing promising results.
The Rockets’ season hasn’t unfolded exactly as initially envisioned. While expectations were high for a team planning to utilize big wings and oversized lineups, the full realization of that vision was delayed by player availability. Now, with a more complete roster, the team is beginning to reveal its potential.
Rockets have received a facelift
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The Rockets appear to be hitting their stride with a full roster available. Saturday’s loss to the Mavericks, in which Alperen Sengun had to leave the game early, is considered an outlier. Over their last five games, the Rockets have a 4-1 record and boast the third-best Defensive Rating in the NBA at 109.2.
However, the team’s recent success should be viewed with nuance. The Rockets acknowledge that the competition during this stretch hasn’t been particularly strong, and their best win came against the Los Angeles Lakers, a team with a 21-11 record but a Net Rating of -0.4.
While Dorian Finney-Smith’s current scoring output (2.4 points per game) and shooting percentage (30.8%) may not be eye-catching, his defensive contributions are noteworthy. The Rockets’ ability to win even with Finney-Smith shaking off rust suggests either the overall strength of the roster or Finney-Smith’s impact beyond the box score.
Tari Eason’s return to form has also been significant. He is shooting 47.4% from three-point range over the last five games and averaging 2.0 steals per game, becoming a defensive menace once again.
Rockets’ real identity is being revealed
The Rockets are experimenting with big lineups, and early results are encouraging. According to CleaningTheGlass, a lineup featuring Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Kevin Durant, Tari Eason, and Amen Thompson has a +47.8 net rating over 104 possessions. Another combination, including Steven Adams alongside Sengun, Durant, Eason, and Thompson, has a +55.8 rating in just 15 possessions, though the sample size is small.
Eason’s versatility as a “jumbo off-guard” appears to be a key factor. His elite catch-and-shoot ability (51.4% on three-point attempts this year) allows the Rockets to maintain offensive spacing while leveraging his size and defensive capabilities. The same potential applies to Finney-Smith, providing the Rockets with lineup flexibility when Eason is unavailable.
With their full roster finally at their disposal, the Rockets are exploring a range of possibilities, and the coaching staff is not tempering expectations.
Why It Matters
The Rockets’ improved performance and evolving lineup strategies signal a potential shift in the Western Conference playoff picture. While the conference remains highly competitive, Houston’s ability to integrate key players and experiment with unique combinations could position them as a serious contender. The team’s defensive improvements, coupled with the offensive firepower of Durant and Sengun, suggest a formula for success that could extend beyond the regular season. The Rockets’ willingness to embrace unconventional lineups and maximize player versatility sets them apart from other teams in the league and could prove to be a significant advantage as the playoffs approach.
