The Houston Rockets have taken over the reputation of being a strong team

In the first phase of the rebuilding of the Houston Rockets, a lot of attention was paid to player development and roster turnover. The team stripped down its roster and began the rebuilding process. Winning games was not the primary goal as the Rockets aimed to allow their young players to gain experience and improve their skills.

The Rockets were not seen as team opponents feared, or a team seen as cocky. However, everything started to change with the hiring of Ime Udoka and the free-agent signings of Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks and Jeff Green. During his first press conference, Udoka said the Rockets won’t back down from anyone, which showed in the first season.

The Rockets improved from ranking near the bottom of the league in nearly every defensive category to ranking in the top ten in several areas. They were also involved in several scrums throughout the season, the most notable being the one between Udoka and LeBron James.

In an earlier post-game interview, following the loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in early December, Udoka discussed the Rockets’ lack of physicality: “To kind of get punked by a team that’s not known for its physicality or punking people is not a good sign. That was the last time we heard the Rockets were a soft team.

Brooks has been known for his tough reputation throughout his career. He was brought in to add strength to a young team looking to change its reputation in the league.

I asked Brooks about his approach to the game and whether he thinks the Rockets team has that reputation now.

Brooks has given the Rockets the strength on defense and the edge they were missing. Even rookie Reed Sheppard has emphasized the importance of toughness in his interviews. In his introductory interview, Sheppard repeatedly talked about how his mother advised him not to be soft on the field. “You can’t be soft,” Sheppard said during his introductory press conference.

Over the past year, the Rockets players have consistently embodied the personality of their head coach and players like Dillon Brooks. This has become a recurring theme in conversations with them. Dillon Brooks isn’t the only Rockets player with this reputation. As a result, the Rockets are no longer seen as pushovers, but as opponents who won’t back down.

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