The Houston Rockets suffered a 100-104 defeat against the Miami Heat, not only marking their second consecutive loss but also bringing their record against the Heat to an unfortunate 0-9. This losing streak began on February 11, 2021, when they lost 94-101 to the Heat, and has continued up to December 30, 2024, with the Rockets failing to secure a single victory against the Heat. Following today's game, the Heat have completed a four-season sweep against the Rockets. The teams will meet once more this season on March 22, 2025, with the Rockets facing an uphill battle as they prepare to challenge the Heat away from home. It seems that a tenth consecutive defeat is all but inevitable.
Why is this happening? The Rockets seem to be under some sort of bloodline suppression when facing teams like the Golden State Warriors and the Miami Heat. To make matters worse, a conflict erupted in the final quarter of today's game, resulting in the ejection of four Rockets players and two from the Heat. What adds insult to injury is the taunting from Tyler Herro. With just 35 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Herro mockingly told the entire Rockets team, "You go home bro, you lost. You lost."
It's worth noting that today's game was at the Rockets' home court, yet they were ridiculed by Herro, telling them to go home. This is extremely frustrating for the Rockets.
What's most critical is that Herro managed to show off his skills, leaving the Rockets with no means to retaliate. In today's game, Herro played for 37 minutes as a starter, making 10 out of 17 shots, including 3 out of 7 three-pointers, and converting 4 out of 7 free throws, efficiently scoring 27 points, grabbing 6 rebounds, and dishing out 9 assists. He single-handedly outperformed Jalen Green and VanVleet, with Green shooting 6 out of 20 and VanVleet 6 out of 17, combining for a total of 12 successful shots out of 37 attempts. What can the Rockets do when they can't compete on the court or in words? They need to change and decide on a direction quickly.
It's not that the Rockets are on a two-game losing streak and still hold the third-best record in the West, so they feel secure and think there's no need to change. It's clear that with their current record, it will be challenging for the Rockets to maintain their top-four position if they don't make changes. The Dallas Mavericks, who are fourth, are only one win behind the Rockets, while the fifth-placed Los Angeles Lakers and sixth-placed Los Angeles Clippers trail by just 2.5 wins. The Rockets are about to face a tough schedule, including games against the Mavericks and the Celtics. If they don't attempt to change their approach and instead settle for the status quo, waiting until next year's offseason to make decisions, I believe they will regret it.
In the past two games, the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Miami Heat have truly exposed the Rockets' weaknesses. While their defense is strong, the inconsistency in offense has become their biggest issue. Jalen Green and VanVleet in the backcourt are essentially wasting the efforts of players like Sengun, Smith, Dillon, and Amen. VanVleet is not worth the max contract he has, and Jalen Green's instability makes him more like a sixth man who can be unpredictable. Recently, the Rockets have started paying attention to De'Aaron Fox, and I think it's time to take action.
Fox is only 27 years old, and the Kings' record hasn't been great. He is interested in joining the Rockets because he is a native of Houston, and returning home would be ideal. What attracts Fox the most is that joining the Rockets would be like moving into a fully furnished house; which NBA star wouldn't love the Rockets' setup? Previously, Jimmy Butler had specifically chosen the Rockets, but they turned him down due to his age. Fox, at the peak of his career, perfectly fits General Manager Stone's requirements and is the ideal candidate to replace VanVleet.
Additionally, the Rockets are also interested in Devin Booker. In other words, the Rockets could package VanVleet and Sheppard plus draft picks to trade for Fox, then use the Suns' draft pick as leverage to bring in Booker in the future. With Fox at point guard, Booker at shooting guard, and the Rockets' group of frontline players, they could really take off. Honestly, swapping VanVleet for Fox and Jalen Green for Booker, with the Rockets' frontline strength, they could potentially achieve the best record in the league. How many times this year have the Rockets relied on their front line to save the day? Look at their recent record against strong opponents since Ethan's absence.