The Rockets are a sleeper that could threaten the Spurs' return to the NBA Finals

After their summer additions, the Spurs are well-equipped to pull off another 60-plus win season. Regardless, that doesn't mean they should ignore the competition out West. Obviously, the Thunder are their biggest threat after a tight, seven-game duel in the Conference Finals. But the Houston Rockets are a serious sleeper with their improved two-way attack and a healthier roster.

Last season was a weird one for Houston. Sure, they won 52 games, but they never found their offensive footing despite having a healthy Kevin Durant paired alongside Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson.

They ultimately lost in the first round of the playoffs to a Luka-less Lakers team (while they were without Durant), but things are looking up for them next season. They added some new tools to the roster, and several players are either going to be healthier or will make massive leaps in their game.

The Rockets have an intimidating defensive attack

There are several keys to slowing down the San Antonio Spurs' offense. One of the most important is containing their guards. Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, and De'Aaron Fox are already a dangerous trio, and they're about to be even better next season. But the Rockets have the defensive tools to make things interesting against them.

Amen Thompson is already one of the NBA's premier defenders with his ability to guard multiple positions and make eye-popping plays on that end of the floor. Houston paired him up with another defensive ace in Marcus Smart, who can disrupt opponents at the point of attack and force turnovers.

There's also Fred VanVleet, who will be back and healthy after missing all of last season with a torn ACL. The Rockets have a scary perimeter defensive attack that looks amazing on paper and could be a problem for the Spurs' backcourt in future matchups.

Guarding the interior is also imperative when competing against the Spurs. Houston retained most of their frontcourt, which did a great job of protecting the rim last season, ranking 11th in opponents' points in the paint. They also dominated the boards, ranking seventh in defensive rebounding percentage.

The Rockets should be much better on offense

Houston's scoring attack was pretty subpar last season, but it should see a massive leap in the 2026-2027 campaign. VanVleet's presence will be huge, as he can handle the ball, create his own shots, and space the floor.

Additionally, they picked up Bogdan Bogdanovic, who is a career 38% shooter from distance. Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun are also due for a big offensive leap, particularly Thompson, who showed some promise as an all-around threat last season.

This isn't to suggest that Houston's scoring attack will be on par with San Antonio's, but it's very clear that they're a much more well-balanced group than they used to be. This doesn't look like a team that'll be great on defense while struggling to find its offensive footing. Instead, they finally look like a reliable two-way group.

If health permits, the Rockets will be tough in the Western Conference next season. They can give the Spurs a real battle if they meet in the playoffs, making their path to the 2027 NBA Finals even more difficult.

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