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Jabari Smith Smith Jr. looks to improve handle this summer
Sun, Jun 15, 2025, 5:18 AM
Ari Alexander
Jabari Smith Jr. said he's focusing on improving his ball-handling and creating his own shot this summer.
Analysis: Smith and the Rockets' season ended disappointingly, as the Warriors bounced them from the first round of the playoffs in seven games. The 2022 lottery pick would eventually be moved to the bench late in the regular season, lowering his playing time. Whether it's as a starter or as a reserve, Smith is working to improve his ability to make plays off the dribble. In addition to the stated desire to improve, he's worth watching this offseason due to the recent Kevin Durant trade rumors. While Houston was adamant that it wanted to keep its young core together during the season, that may change this summer. And Smith's name has been mentioned as one the Suns would likely be focused on if they were to make a deal with the Rockets. |
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Steven Adams Shams: Rockets give Steven Adams three-year deal
Sat, Jun 14, 2025, 8:30 AM
Shams Charania
ESPN's Shams Charania reported Steven Adams has agreed to a three-year, $39 contract extension with the Rockets.
Analysis: Rather than test free agency, Adams agreed to three-year extension to stay with the Rockets. Houston already has Alperen Sengun as the starter, but Adams was a key player in Houston's rotation down the stretch of the season as he usurped Jock Landale as the primary backup center. Adams isn't much of a scorer at this point of his career, but averaged 15.8 minutes per game and 6.3 rebounds per game in the second half of the season. |
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Dillon Brooks Dillon Brooks limited to eight points in Game 7
Sun, May 4, 2025, 6:12 PM
Dillon Brooks shot 3-of-9 from the field and 2-of-2 from the foul line in Sunday's Game 7 loss to the Warriors, scoring eight points with two rebounds, one assist and one steal in 35 minutes.
Analysis: Brooks crashed back to earth after scoring 24 points in Game 5, totaling 11 points on 4-of-14 shooting. He's been more valuable to the Rockets as a defender and veteran presence, hence his low Yahoo! ADP of 139. At best, Brooks will likely remain a late-round pick in standard leagues, while managers in 10-team formats can afford to leave him alone in drafts next fall. |
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Jalen Green Jalen Green struggles in Game 7 loss to Warriors
Sun, May 4, 2025, 6:10 PM
Bryan Toporek
Jalen Green finished Sunday's Game 7 loss to the Warriors with eight points (3-of-8 FGs, 2-of-3 FTs), four rebounds, one assist and one block in 30 minutes.
Analysis: Outside of Game 2, Green's first postseason experience was a disappointment. Remove that 38-point effort, and the Rockets guard totaled 47 points on 16-of-53 shooting in the other six games. Green has long been a better option for points leagues than category leagues, but he has been worthy of a top-100 pick. Whether that remains the case ahead of the 2025-26 season depends on what the Rockets' front office does this offseason. There's a clear need for consistent perimeter shooting, especially with two starters (Green and Fred VanVleet) who shot below 43 percent from the field during the regular season. |
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Fred VanVleet Fred VanVleet hits three three-pointers in Game 7
Sun, May 4, 2025, 6:02 PM
Michael Scotto
Fred VanVleet recorded 17 points (6-of-13 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), seven rebounds, three assists, two steals and three three-pointers in 44 minutes in a Game 7 loss to the Warriors on Sunday.
Analysis: While VanVleet did cool off after an excellent two-game run to help force a Game 7, he remained solid on Sunday. The veteran point guard finished a blocked shot shy of a complete stat line and was third in scoring behind Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun. VanVleet has a team option for next season, and both sides have expressed interest in continuing the partnership. The question is what the final price tag will be. Despite his poor field goal percentage, VanVleet can be incredibly valuable as a fantasy asset. |
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Alperen Sengun Alperen Sengun posts 21/14/5/1/1 line in Game 7
Sun, May 4, 2025, 5:56 PM
Alperen Sengun accumulated 21 points (9-of-23 FGs, 2-of-4 FTs), 14 rebounds, five assists, one steal, one block and one three-pointer in 40 minutes in a Game 7 loss to the Warriors on Sunday.
Analysis: Sengun finished Sunday's defeat with his fifth double-double in seven games, grabbing nine rebounds in the two exceptions. Sengun's efficiency in Game 7 wasn't up to standard, but the Warriors did an excellent job of making him work for his looks after he shot 11-of-18 from the field in Game 1. Result aside, this was a promising first playoff series for Sengun. From a fantasy standpoint, he did not reach his Yahoo! ADP (27) in eight- or nine-cat formats this season. However, the skill set is such that Sengun will not slip outside the first 50 picks in fantasy drafts next fall. |
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Amen Thompson Amen Thompson drops 24 points, complete stat line
Sun, May 4, 2025, 5:47 PM
Amen Thompson finished Sunday's Game 7 loss to the Warriors with 24 points (9-of-16 FGs, 6-of-6 FTs), nine rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block in 37 minutes.
Analysis: A double-digit scorer in each of the final six games of the series, Thompson surpassed 20 points in Games 5 and 7. On Sunday, the second-year wing recorded a complete stat line while shooting over 50 percent from the field. While he does not offer much as a perimeter shooter, Thompson's versatility, athleticism and defensive ability make him an attractive building block for the future. His fantasy value took off once he moved into the starting lineup, and Thompson should begin next season as a starter. After entering this season with a Yahoo! ADP of 116, a case can be made for Amen being a top-50 pick in three-point punt builds next fall. |
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Jae'Sean Tate Jae'Sean Tate (ankle) out for Game 7 on Sunday
Sun, May 4, 2025, 3:28 AM
NBA Injury Report
Jae'Sean Tate (ankle) is out for Game 7 on Sunday against the Warriors.
Analysis: Tate has yet to play in this series, as he has been out with a right ankle impingement. His continued absence will not impact the series, as Tate is not guaranteed rotation minutes when he is available. |
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Jock Landale Jock Landale (knee) out again for Game 7 Sunday
Sat, May 3, 2025, 12:56 PM
NBA Injury Report
Jock Landale (knee) will remain sidelined for Game 7 against the Warriors on Sunday.
Analysis: Aside from a five minute stint in Game 5 during Houston's blowout win, Landale has not seen the floor this series. He missed Game 6 and will remain sidelined once again, though it won't impact the Rockets' rotation. |
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Steven Adams Steven Adams scores series-best 17 points in win
Fri, May 2, 2025, 6:15 PM
Hoop Informatics
Steven Adams tallied 17 points (4-of-4 FGs, 9-of-16 FTs), five rebounds, one assist and three blocks in 31 minutes in Friday's Game 6 win over the Warriors.
Analysis: Adams attempted a staggering 16 free throws in Game 6, as the Warriors intentionally fouled him on multiple occasions to close the gap. The veteran center made enough to keep Golden State at bay, and he has been more impactful than many may have expected before the series began. According to Hoop Informatics, Adams has been a +15 or better in the last three games. Houston has won the last two, and a similar effort from Adams in Sunday's Game 7 may get the Rockets out of the first round for the first time since 2020. |
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Amen Thompson Amen Thompson tallies 14 points, three steals
Fri, May 2, 2025, 6:12 PM
Amen Thompson amassed 14 points (5-of-13 FGs, 4-of-6 FTs), seven rebounds, two assists and three steals in 36 minutes in a Game 6 win over the Warriors on Friday.
Analysis: After scoring eight points in the series opener, Thompson has reached double figures in five straight games. He didn't have a great night shooting-wise on Friday, but the second-year wing provided solid value in multiple categories to help the Rockets force a Game 7. Thompson has also been a factor defensively, taking on the task of defending Stephen Curry for extended periods throughout the series. He and the Rockets will look to eliminate the Warriors in Game 7 on Sunday afternoon. |
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Alperen Sengun Alperen Sengun records 21/14/6/3 line vs. Warriors
Fri, May 2, 2025, 6:08 PM
Alperen Sengun finished Houston's Game 6 win over the Warriors on Friday with 21 points (8-of-20 FGs, 5-of-7 FTs), 14 rebounds, six assists and three steals in 37 minutes.
Analysis: Sengun recorded his fourth double-double in six games on Friday, helping the Rockets force a decisive Game 7 on Sunday afternoon. While the sledding has not been easy for the young center playing against a smaller Warriors lineup, Sengun has more than held his own in this series. The Rockets will need a similar effort from him to defend their home court and eliminate the Warriors on Sunday. |
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Fred VanVleet VanVleet drops 29 points in Game 6 vs. Warriors
Fri, May 2, 2025, 6:02 PM
Fred VanVleet shot 7-of-13 from the field and 9-of-9 from the foul line in a Game 6 win over the Warriors on Friday, scoring 29 points with eight rebounds, eight assists and six three-pointers in 40 minutes.
Analysis: After scoring 17 points or less in the series' first three games, VanVleet has kicked things up a notch at the right time. He's scored 25 or more in three straight, shooting over 50 percent from the field in each outing. Due to VanVleet's performance on Friday, the Rockets will host a Game 7 on Sunday. While he hasn't been the most consistent shooter, VanVleet has a history of stepping up in big moments. With his team trailing three games to one, the veteran point guard made good on that reputation in Games 5 and 6. |
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Jock Landale Jock Landale (knee) out for Game 6 vs. Warriors
Fri, May 2, 2025, 10:03 AM
NBA Injury Report
Jock Landale (knee) is out for Game 6 on Friday against the Warriors.
Analysis: Landale has only seen action in one game this series, playing five minutes in the Rockets' blowout victory in Game 5. The knee contusion sidelined him for the first three games, and Landale did not play in Game 4 despite being cleared. His return to the sidelines will not impact the Rockets' rotation as they look to extend the series to a decisive Game 7. |
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Dillon Brooks Dillon Brooks scores 24 points in Game 5 win
Wed, Apr 30, 2025, 5:02 PM
Dillon Brooks lit up the Warriors with 24 points (7-of-13 FGs), one rebound, two assists and two three-pointers in Game 5 on Wednesday.
Analysis: Brooks finally had a big game on offense in this series. He hadn't been bad, but this was the first time he surpassed 20 points in a game this series. It was a great response from him after he allowed Jimmy Butler to take over in the second half on Monday and lead the Warriors to victory. Brooks will need to continue to shoot the ball like he did in this game for the Rockets to win in Golden State in Game 6 on Friday. |
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Alperen Sengun Alperen Sengun records 15/9/9/2/2 line in Game 5
Wed, Apr 30, 2025, 4:59 PM
Alperen Sengun stuffed the stat sheet on Wednesday with 15 points (6-of-9 FGs), nine rebounds, nine assists, two steals and two blocks in Game 5 against the Warriors.
Analysis: After dominating as a scorer in Game 4, Sengun didn't have the same success in Game 5, mostly because he didn't need to. He only took nine shots and impacted the game in other ways. He nearly recorded a triple-double and was able to make contributions on the defensive end. Heading back to Golden State for Game 6 on Friday, Sengun may have to take on a larger scoring role to help Houston keep its season alive. |
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Amen Thompson Thompson pours in 25/6/3/5/3 line in Game 5 win
Wed, Apr 30, 2025, 4:55 PM
Amen Thompson posted a full line on Wednesday with 25 points (8-of-12 FGs, 8-of-9 FTs), six rebounds, three assists, five steals, three blocks and one three-pointer in a 131-116 win over the Warriors in Game 5.
Analysis: Thompson's first four postseason games were a bit disappointing, but he showed just how good he can be with his performance in Game 5. He did a little bit of everything and finished just two assists and two blocks shy of 5x5. What was most impressive was that he even had a successful night at the free throw line and hit his only attempt from beyond the arc. Thompson had an unreal performance and will need to continue that in Game 6 on Friday as they Rockets head out on the road and try to keep their season alive. |
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Fred VanVleet Fred VanVleet scores game-high 26 points in Game 5
Wed, Apr 30, 2025, 4:50 PM
Fred VanVleet led the Rockets with 26 points (8-of-13 FGs), one rebound, two assists, one block and four three-pointers in Game 5 against the Warriors on Wednesday.
Analysis: After scoring 25 points with eight triples on Monday, VanVleet picked up right where he left off and scored 14 points in the first quarter on Wednesday. He didn't end up contributing much else over the final three quarters, but the damage had already been done. VanVleet led all scorers in this game to help Houston keep its season alive. He'll need to carry this hot shooting to Golden State on Friday for Game 6. |
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Amen Thompson Amen Thompson turns in 17/9/2/1 line vs. GSW
Mon, Apr 28, 2025, 7:06 PM
Amen Thompson finished with 17 points (7-of-12 FGs), nine rebounds, two assists and one steal in Game 4 against the Warriors on Monday.
Analysis: Thompson dealt with some foul trouble in the first half, but he was able to turn things around after the break. He was able to deliver decent numbers, but Thompson's first postseason hasn't been as expected. Through four games, he has averaged 11.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists while shooting 45.5 percent from the floor. He has also contributed just 1.3 defensive stats per game after averaging 2.6 per game during the regular season. The Rockets will need him to be much better to keep their season alive in Game 5 on Wednesday. |
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Fred VanVleet Fred VanVleet knocks down eight threes in loss
Mon, Apr 28, 2025, 7:03 PM
Fred VanVleet lit up the Warriors with 25 points (8-of-13 FGs), two rebounds, six assists and eight three-pointers in Game 4 on Monday.
Analysis: VanVleet has struggled to find his shot in this series, but that wasn't the case on Monday. He scored 24 of his 25 shots from beyond the arc, and he only took one shot inside the three-point line, which was a miss. He had a chance to force overtime, but his drifting triple fell short. VanVleet will look to stay hot as the series shifts back to Houston for Game 5 on Wednesday. If he's hitting shots like he did in this game, they will have a chance to keep their season alive. |
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