Inside The Rockets

Analyst Predicts Deep Rockets Playoff Run

The Houston Rockets could have a long postseason this year.

Jeremy Brener

Jan 1, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Jae'Sean Tate (8) celebrates with guard Fred VanVleet (5) after scoring a basket during the third quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Jan 1, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Jae'Sean Tate (8) celebrates with guard Fred VanVleet (5) after scoring a basket during the third quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images / Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
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The Houston Rockets are 22-11 through their first 33 games, placing them at No. 3 in the Western Conference.

With roughly 50 games to go, the Rockets have plenty of room to grow, but they also have time to move down in the standings.

However, ESPN analyst Chris Herring doesn't believe that will end up being the case. He thinks that the Rockets can sustain their strong start for the final three months or so in the regular season.

"The Houston Rockets still have some offensive issues but feature a stout defense (No. 2) and could make postseason noise. Ime Udoka's group has a firm identity and enviable versatility to make life difficult for opposing offenses. And even if there are offensive droughts, there's enough of an inside-out game between center Alperen Sengun and the club's wings to make the Rockets' offense potent," Herring writes.

The Rockets are a young team, but they have the tools needed to make a deep run. They will have some challenges against teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder, Memphis Grizzlies and Denver Nuggets, but there's plenty of reason to believe that they can hang in there with the rest of the West contenders.

The Rockets are back in action tonight as they take on the Boston Celtics at 7 p.m. CT.

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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