In the fiercely competitive Western Conference of the NBA, the Houston Rockets and the Oklahoma City Thunder have always been two promising teams that attract attention. However, after in-depth analysis, it is not difficult to find that compared to the Thunder, the Rockets show a more terrifying development potential and future prospects. The following three reasons are enough to prove that the Rockets are the true masters of the West's future.
Salary Structure: The Rockets' Advantages Are Obvious, While the Thunder Hides Crises
Next season, the Thunder will face huge pressure on their salary cap space. With the big contracts of the team's players gradually taking effect, the total salary will significantly increase. Looking back at the glory and helpless disbandment of the "Thunder Trio" in the past, a similar plot is very likely to be repeated in the current Thunder team. Once the salary pressure exceeds the bearable range, the team will most likely choose to rebuild to balance the finances, which will undoubtedly disrupt the team's development trajectory.
On the other hand, the Rockets currently have VanVleet with the largest contract, which expires at the end of the season and is still an option for the team next season. Shen Jing's big contract starting next season is only more than 30 million, Green has a total of more than 30 million in the next two seasons, Amen's contract is only about 10 million, and the salaries of other young players are also in the millions. As long as the Rockets choose to get rid of VanVleet's contract, the salary space will skyrocket. This provides a wide range of operational space for the team to recruit players and upgrade the lineup in the future, allowing them to flexibly respond to various situations.
Offensive Firepower: The Rockets Have Multiple Scoring Options, While the Thunder Struggles Alone
The Thunder relies too much on Alexander in the game. Although Alexander is outstanding, once opponents formulate a tight defensive strategy against him before the game and cut off this key scoring point, the Thunder's offense will fall into trouble. Last season's playoff failure fully exposed the fatal flaw of the team's overly single offensive approach. And this season, the Thunder has not made effective improvements in this regard, which greatly limits their progress in the subsequent schedule. It is conceivable how difficult it will be for them to go further in the competitive West and even the entire league.
In stark contrast, the Rockets' offense is a multi-point explosion. In every game, different players step up to become the key factor in winning the game for the team. This diversified offensive system makes it impossible for opponents to formulate a defensive strategy before the game, making it difficult to curb the team's offense by limiting a single player. This advantage of the Rockets provides them with a more stable victory guarantee in the long season and the brutal playoffs.
Team Culture: The Rockets Aim for the Long Term, While the Thunder Focuses on Short-Term Benefits
The Thunder's operating philosophy has long focused more on cost control, trying to build a championship lineup with rookie contracts. Once this goal cannot be achieved, the team will毫不犹豫地选择 to rebuild, which is precisely why the Thunder is jokingly called the "Whampoa Military Academy." Frequent rebuilding can bring fresh blood to the team, but it also disrupts the team's stability and continuity, making it difficult to form a sustained championship competitiveness.
The Rockets, on the other hand, are completely different. The management is willing to invest money and is not stingy in the cultivation and introduction of stars. The large amounts of money invested in many stars over the years have not only enhanced the team's strength but also conveyed the determination of the Rockets to win championships to the outside world. This emphasis and investment in stars enable the team to retain core players and lay a solid foundation for the team's long-term stable development.
In summary, whether it is the flexibility of the salary structure, the diversity of offensive firepower, or the stability of the team culture, the Rockets have shown a superiority beyond the Thunder.