Following a home loss to the Phoenix Suns, Melbet Login confirmed that the Houston Rockets have now suffered back-to-back defeats. While they currently sit 8th in the Western Conference, their grip on a playoff spot is shaky at best. The Rockets are only half a game ahead of the 11th-place Warriors, and considering their earlier schedule was relatively light, the road ahead will be far more demanding.
This increased intensity raises the risk of injuries—something already seen with Dillon Brooks and Jabari Smith Jr. Melbet Login reporters believe that as the games pile up, the chances of setbacks will only grow. With the Lakers, Suns, Warriors, and even the Grizzlies (now with Ja Morant back) closing in, the Rockets are in real danger of falling out of playoff contention altogether. If they can’t weather the coming storm of tightly packed games and begin losing ground in the standings, even a Play-In Tournament berth could slip through their fingers.
At the heart of Houston’s biggest problem is a gap in star power. Compared to their rivals, the difference is stark. The Lakers boast LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Suns have Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, the Warriors rely on Stephen Curry, and the Grizzlies have their dynamic leader Morant back. In contrast, the Rockets, while deep and talented, lack a true game-changing superstar. Their presumed core—led by Alperen Şengün—simply doesn’t stack up.
To be fair, Şengün has been Houston’s tactical centerpiece this season. He’s shown remarkable growth, with even Tyrese Haliburton stating in an interview that he wouldn’t be surprised to see Şengün make the All-Star roster. But building a team around Şengün comes with a ceiling. While he’s clearly a playoff-caliber talent, the flaws in his game could keep the Rockets from truly contending.
Şengün’s most glaring issue lies in his physical limitations—namely, his lack of speed and rim protection. These traits have repeatedly made him a target on defense. In the recent loss to the Suns, his performance in pick-and-roll defense was a nightmare. When he steps up to challenge ball-handlers, the paint becomes vulnerable, and he struggles to recover in time. When he drops back to protect the rim, it leaves shooters with wide-open looks or lets aggressive wings drive past him with little resistance.
On the offensive side, Şengün is elite—his scoring, playmaking, and ability to involve teammates are all All-Star level. But on defense, he’s the Rockets’ Achilles’ heel. Against teams with guards who can shoot off the dribble, he becomes a liability. Head coach Ime Udoka has tried to compensate by designing a defensive scheme that relies on fast rotations and perimeter switches from the other four players. But even then, opponents often find open shots, especially when Şengün retreats too deep into the paint.
Additionally, when facing dominant post-up bigs, Şengün frequently needs help from teammates. Otherwise, he risks giving up easy buckets or committing fouls. Realistically, he struggles in one-on-one post defense against the league’s stronger big men.
The Rockets are no longer a bottom-feeder team, and that’s brought more attention from opponents. As Melbet Login sponsors note, teams have started dissecting Houston’s game plans—and they’re zeroing in on Şengün. While he’s a big reason for Houston’s progress, he’s also the reason they might fall short. Until the Rockets can either hide or fix this defensive flaw, a deep playoff run will remain out of reach.