2022-23 Houston Rockets Season Preview
There is nowhere to go but up for the Houston Rockets as they finished last season with the NBA’s worst record at 20-62. But with Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. each averaging 19+ points per game after the All-Star break, the Rockets’ young duo gave fans something to look forward to in 2022 and beyond.
Houston Rockets Betting Odds
| 2022-23 NBA Odds as of Monday, October 10 | Courtesy of DraftKings |
|---|---|
| NBA Championship Odds: | 1000-to-1 |
| Southwest Division Odds: | 500-to-1 |
| Regular Season Win Total: | 23.5 (o -115 / u -105) |
| Opening Night: | +9.5 at Atlanta Hawks (o/u 234) |
Veteran Eric Gordon continues to be the leader when he’s healthy, but that’s been a tough task as he only played in ten games after the All-Star break last season. This will be Gordon’s seventh year with the Rockets, and many of his teammates in the 2022-23 season were still in high school when Gordon and James Harden were torching in the Western Conference in 2017-18.
Adding Some SEC Speed
The Rockets used their No. 3 pick in the draft to take Auburn standout Jabari Smith Jr. who was exceptional in his only year in college. He averaged almost 17 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, all while shooting 42-percent from three-point range. Smith Jr. also added a block and steal per game for the Tigers. He should slot in as the team’s starting power forward come opening night.
Houston also drafted LSU forward Tari Eason in the first round who put up 17 points per game last season as well, shooting an efficient 52-percent from the field. He’ll come off the bench next to Jae’Sean Tate going into the upcoming season.
Rockets Trade With Thunder…Again
Houston and Oklahoma City have been famous trade partners over the last five years, and they were active once again during the offseason. The Rockets traded away Sterling Brown, David Nwaba, Trey Burke and Marquese Chriss for Theo Maledon, Ty Jerome, Mo Harkless, Derick Favors and draft considerations from Oklahoma City.
This seems to be a one-time overhaul to improve the team’s main role players off the bench. The only two figured to make an impact right away are Maledon and Favors. Favors figures to be a big impact during practice as the team’s oldest forward/center. Tate re-signed with the Rockets over the offseason to a 3-year $20 million deal back in July.
Houston Rockets’ 2022-23 Season Outlook
This looks to be another rebuilding year for the Rockets, but they could catch some teams off guard on any given night. The Rockets don’t figure to be in the playoff mix come March and April but it wouldn’t be surprising to see the team jump San Antonio in the Southwest Division standings by the end of the regular season.
The young core of Green, Tate and Porter Jr. have some experience playing together, which should put them near 25-30 wins for the season. Favors will mentor second-year center Alperen Sengun who will likely play more than the 20 minutes per game he did last season. Sengun showed improvement across the board when comparing pre and post All-Star break numbers. Green, Tate and Porter Jr. should all figure to average around 20 points per game this season.
Houtson Rockets’ Projected Starting Five
PG: Kevin Porter Jr.
SG: Jalen Green
SF: Eric Gordon
PF: Jabri Smith Jr.
C: Alperen Sengun
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