What the Thunder exposed about the Rockets — and why their slump can't be ignored ahead of trade deadline
- - What the Thunder exposed about the Rockets — and why their slump can't be ignored ahead of trade deadline
Kelly IkoJanuary 16, 2026 at 2:21 AM
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HOUSTON — By the time the Oklahoma City Thunder drilled their third triple in the span of a 60-second early fourth quarter stretch, Rockets head coach Ime Udoka, livid from his team’s compounding mistakes, stormed the court heading straight for Reed Sheppard.
Sheppard, the culprit for two of the three wide-open looks — a mixup in coverage and communication — could only hang his head while Udoka admonished the second-year guard all the way to his seat on the bench, before attempting to salvage what was left of the game.
Houston’s accumulation of mistakes had turned a rather tight contest up until that point into a nine-point deficit the Rockets never recovered from. But Udoka’s outburst wasn’t simply an isolated incident in a lengthy regular season. It was a clear reminder of the gap that exists between both franchises, an illustration of the razor-thin margin for error against the elite — and a possible indication that Houston’s prior stance toward the trade market might need revisiting weeks before the deadline.
“Every game matters for us and we haven’t been playing our best,” Udoka said following Houston’s 111-91 blowout loss. “Regardless of record or whatever, we need to continue to focus on what we’re doing.”
Thursday night’s offensive fiasco was a microcosm of the issues surrounding this talented Rockets team as of late. The Thunder’s defensive game plan was simple: swarm Kevin Durant first and foremost, sending extra help on drives and potential pull-ups and lean on physicality to mitigate Alperen Şengün’s impact around the elbows. For nearly 40 minutes, Durant had no room to breathe, with arms, feet and everything but the kitchen sink in his way — that he finished with just 19 points on 23 shots is no surprise, nor is Şengün’s 14 points on 15 shots.
“I felt like I missed some good shots to be honest,” Durant said. “But they swarmed the paint, we got up 104 looks. My shot-making is supposed to inspire the whole group so when I’m not making shots, it takes away from us. I just gotta be more prepared and fundamentally sound. A few shots I rushed or was looking for a foul. I just gotta be better.”
Kevin Durant struggled to find clean looks against Oklahoma City on Thursday, a snapshot of Houston's growing offensive issues. (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect / REUTERS)
But just how Houston labored — struggling to capitalize on 4-on-3s, failing to take full advantage of its dominance on the offensive glass (25 points from 23 offensive rebounds) and another anemic shooting night (29 percent from three, 33 from the field) — told a larger story of where this team needs fixing. The Rockets are about as deep of a basketball team as any of their rivals in the Western Conference but are dealing with roster inconsistency and a lack of quarterback that is starting to catch up with them.
A little over a month ago, the Rockets were second in the West with a strong 15-5 record. They have gone 8-10, are currently losers of five out of their last seven, have a bottom 10 defense and, as of the new year, are 28th in offense. That they even sit in sixth place (23-15), half a game outside of the Play-In, is a miracle and testament to the sheer individual talent on the roster.
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Prior to the season, Houston laid forth a playmaking-by-committee plan; more opportunities for Şengün, Durant and Amen Thompson — along with Sheppard. But at essentially the halfway point of the season, it’s clear that Fred VanVleet’s absence is greater than previously advertised. Udoka’s quest for a sufficient in-game organizer has seen him call on JD Davison, a two-way scrappy guard, ahead of Sheppard, the No. 3 pick from the 2024 Draft, over the past two games. It shouldn’t come as a surprise — Udoka has made decent usage out of his array of undersized guards, including veteran Aaron Holiday — but the Rockets’ desperation plays only further undermine their contention hopes over the next few months.
For what it’s worth, the Rockets’ brass hasn’t signaled any aggressive intention to upgrade their current roster as they have in seasons past, opting not to react to what they deem a containable slump. The Rockets weren’t interested in Trae Young prior to him being dealt, nor are they interested in Ja Morant or a more experienced veteran like Chris Paul. They’re also less inclined to chase expensive names like LaMelo Ball or Darius Garland because of the potential complications that accompany blockbuster deals of that nature.
Houston, according to team sources, has had discussions with around half the league — with more incoming and outgoing calls expected over the next 10 days as the Feb. 5 trade deadline draws closer — but doesn't have any firm offer in either direction that is cause for serious internal discussion. What they do have is an understanding of what they are willing to do and an inkling of what teams want. For instance, the Rockets received a number of calls surrounding Tari Eason prior to him becoming a starter, sources say — as well as inquiries on summer additions Dorian Finney-Smith and Clint Capela — but nothing, as mentioned earlier, was concrete.
Their current cap constraints (Houston is hard-capped at the first apron) limit what they’re able to do on the open market, but the Rockets have signaled a willingness to move some of their draft capital if the right upgrade presents itself. Houston has a total of nine future first-round draft picks, including control of future firsts from Phoenix, Brooklyn and Dallas — as well as a slew of second-round picks.
At a glance, Houston’s cautious approach to the trade deadline is understandable given the current climate. But, if negative results persist and their slide down the standings continues, changes are likely to occur. And regardless of what is presumed to be atop the wishlist — proficient point guard help or wing scoring — the Rockets as currently constructed are a few notches below a championship roster and could benefit from an arrival or two before the window slams shut.
Source: “AOL Sports”
