The Houston Rockets sat stuck to the floor of the Western Conference in Jalen Green's first two NBA seasons. Year 3 brought a rise to respectability. Year 4 is possibly the greatest leap yet for both the Rockets and their first lottery pick of the post-Harden era.
Houston can attribute its 30-14 start (ahead of Monday's game at the defending-champion Boston Celtics) to several factors. Head coach Ime Udoka reformed the franchise's culture last season, then empowered his collection of rising young talent this season. Second-year guard Amen Thompson is a stat-sheet-stuffing revelation.