After a week off for the 2023 All-Star break, the Houston Rockets begin the finishing stretch of the 2022-23 NBA season with uncertainty and questions that have no definitive answers.
Their 13-45 record is the worst in the NBA, as is Houston’s offensive rating (110.0). Their defensive rating (118.4) ranks 28th among the league’s 30 teams, and their net rating (-8.4) is No. 29.
If the Rockets finish with the NBA’s worst record, it will be their third straight season doing so. They own their first-round draft pick in 2023, though the league’s recently flattened lottery odds mean that acquiring perceived generational talent Victor Wembanyama or Scoot Henderson is unlikely.
As for the current group and its development, it’s worth noting the roster isn’t healthy. Kevin Porter Jr. has missed more than a month with a left foot injury. Backcourt mate Jalen Green strained his left groin in the final game before the All-Star break.
Here are three concerns the Rockets have as they resume play.