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Rockets Primed for Title Contention with Durant's Arrival
7 Aug
Summary
- Rockets tipped as top contenders after acquiring Kevin Durant
- Kendrick Perkins praises Rockets' depth, coaching, and Durant's scoring
- Rockets kept young core intact while adding veteran pieces
In the lead-up to the upcoming NBA season, the Houston Rockets have emerged as a top contender for the championship, largely due to their acquisition of superstar forward Kevin Durant this offseason. According to former NBA player and current analyst Kendrick Perkins, who played alongside Durant on the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Rockets are now "the only team, in my opinion, that's now looking eye to eye with the champs."
Perkins highlighted the Rockets' strong finish as the second seed in the Western Conference last season, noting that their main missing piece was a "closer" - a role that Durant is expected to fill. The Rockets were able to retain their young core, including promising players like Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun, and Tari Eason, while also adding veteran pieces like Dorian Finney-Smith and Clint Capela.
Perkins praised the Rockets' depth, their ability to play "inside out" and stretch the floor, as well as the hiring of coach Ime Udoka, who he believes is a "hell of a coach." The analyst also lauded Durant's scoring prowess, calling him "arguably, in my eyes, the greatest scorer to ever touch a basketball." With Durant's arrival, the Rockets are poised to make a serious run at the championship this upcoming season.
