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The Houston Rockets had their best season in five years in 2024-25, winning 52 games, finishing second in the Western Conference, and making their first playoff appearance since 2020. The Rockets were able to accomplish this by having one of the best defenses in the NBA and their best rebounding season in the last 50-plus seasons.
The Rockets improved by 11 games this season after improving by a league-best 19 wins in 2023-24. The Rockets realized from day one that they would have to rely on rebounding and defense to compensate for their occasional lack of offense. The Rockets' struggles on offense ultimately caused their downfall in the playoffs, as they had several games where they just couldn't put the ball in the basket.
Even though the Rockets improved their 3-point shooting in the second half of the season, they were still overall a middle-of-the-pack offense most of the season and bottom 10 in 3-point shooting. Some of the Rockets' woes can be attributed to their personnel. The Rockets aren't a team full of players who can get their own shots or are knockdown 3-point shooters.
Some, however, can be attributed to the offense the Rockets implement each game. The Rockets are a heavy pick-and-roll team and depend a lot on Alperen Sengun's playmaking from the post. Sengun had a great season, and running the offense through him usually results in a good shot, but the Rockets could benefit from diversifying their offense as well.
The Rockets were not a team that ran many offscreen plays for their shooters, such as Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks or Jabari Smith. The Rockets ranked 27th in offscreen field goal attempts, which means they didn't have as much player movement as they should have during the regular season.
Players like Green and Amen Thompson thrive when they are on the move and not in a stagnant offense. The Rockets were better when it came to cutting to the basket, as they ranked 11th in field goal attempts and 15th in points per game from cutting to the basket. However, with a player like Sengun, who draws double teams every game and is one of the better passing big men in the league, they should be higher in both categories.
The Rockets know they can win a significant number of games in the regular season by outrebounding teams and clamping down on defense, but to become championship contenders next season, they will need to add more variety to their offense.
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Knicks Get Good News on Contract for French Prospect
It might be a while yet before 20-year-old prospect Mohamed Diawara contributes for the Knicks. But he will, at least, begin the process of figuring out his future with the team this season, as his team in France announced that he would not be returning next year, as he will sign on to play in New York. Diawara is a 6-foot-8 forward who averaged 6.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists last season for his French team, Cholet. If there was speculation about whether he would join the Knicks or remain in France, that ended on Friday, as Cholet announced that Diawara was leaving. According to NBA.com, "With Cholet, Diawara made 27 appearances, averaging 5.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists with 38/31/49 shooting splits. Diawara has earned two medals playing for France, winning bronze in 2022 at the U17 FIBA World Cup and gold during the 2024 U20 FIBA EuroBasket." The Knicks made him the 51st overall pick in this draft, based mainly on his athleticism, defensive potential and impressive frame (he has a 7-foot-4 wingspan.) He played for the Knicks in summer league this month, finishing with 7.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.2 steals on 40% shooting (33.3% on 3-pointers) in four games. But he looked solid, defensively, in the summer. “We’re just trying to give him different looks. A lot of this is like, ‘Let’s see what we’ve got,’” summer coach Jordan Brink said. “And let’s put him in different positions and try to help him succeed, see if we can find something, trying to get him downhill to his right the best we can. His ability to rebound and run has been impressive.” Given his age, raw approach to the game and lack of polished scoring ability, the Knicks might have preferred he remain overseas to bolster his game. But his athleticism and body type remind some of longtime NBA role player Mickael Pietrus, and that's a promising comp. The Knicks will bring him stateside and probably let him develop under their watch in the G League, either on a minimum deal or as a two-way player.
Steelers rookie Will Howard may have already moved up the depth chart
Pittsburgh Steelers training camp is in full swing, and it’s already been full of excitement. With many new faces on the roster, fans are eager to see how these additions will fit in. After a busy and eventful offseason, training camp serves as the perfect opportunity for all the anticipation surrounding the team to start coming together on the field. One of the most talked-about positions for the Steelers this offseason has been quarterback. The team completely overhauled the position, leading to plenty of uncertainty and speculation early on. While the Steelers were strongly linked to Aaron Rodgers for some time, no official deal had been made by the start of the 2025 NFL Draft. Amid the uncertainty, the team made a bold decision by selecting Will Howard out of Ohio State, bringing in a new face and creating even more talk about the future of the position. Because the Steelers picked Howard late in the draft, there were questions about what his role on the team would be. Even before Rodgers signed, it was clear Howard wouldn’t be the starter. However, during a recent 7 shots drill, Howard unexpectedly took reps with the third team, raising more questions about where he might fit in. Rodgers is clearly locked in as the starting quarterback, with the hope that he can stay healthy throughout the entire season. Earlier in the offseason, he mentioned that this would likely be his final year, though he expressed excitement about the opportunity to play for a franchise like the Steelers. That said, Rodgers has always been unpredictable, and there’s still a chance his career may continue beyond this season. Regardless of what the future holds, his experience and football knowledge are incredibly valuable to the other quarterbacks on the roster, and they’ve made it clear how much they appreciate having him around. Mason Rudolph is expected to be the primary backup behind Rodgers this season. Rudolph was originally drafted by the Steelers and has spent most of his career in Pittsburgh as a dependable backup. However, he’s also shown he can step up when needed, filling in during important games and leading the team when called upon. Rudolph spent last season with the Tennessee Titans, gaining additional experience outside of Pittsburgh. After that brief stint, he re-signed with the Steelers early in the offseason, bringing familiarity, veteran presence and stability to the quarterback room behind Rodgers. Rudolph recently shared that Rodgers has been both incredibly helpful and genuinely friendly since joining the team. Many expected Skylar Thompson, another veteran backup the Steelers signed this offseason, to be next in line on the depth chart. However, with Howard now taking third-team reps, he could move up the depth chart as the season progresses. Rookies bring an element of unpredictability since they’re adjusting to a completely new environment and haven’t yet played in professional games. It’s hard to know how they’ll perform until they get real field experience. If Howard continues to perform well, there’s no reason he shouldn’t climb higher on the depth chart. It’s unlikely that Howard will get much playing time this year, but that doesn’t mean this season isn’t important for him. Learning from a player like Rodgers is incredibly valuable, and Howard has shared how grateful he is to have Rodgers as a mentor. Even if he doesn’t take the field this season, the experience and knowledge he gains behind the scenes could greatly influence his opportunities for playing time down the road. Steelers' future at QB likely isn't on the roster The Steelers were connected to several quarterbacks in this year’s draft class, and the situation drew plenty of attention due to the uncertainty surrounding Rodgers at the time. Although the team eventually signed Rodgers and selected Howard in the later rounds, it seems the search for a long-term franchise quarterback may still be ongoing. Rodgers is only on a one-year deal, and reports have already surfaced that the Steelers are eyeing next year’s quarterback draft class. Opinions on Howard vary, as some view him as a potential career backup, while others are optimistic about his upside and believe he could develop into a solid starting option in the future. Will Howard prove himself and continue to move up the depth chart?
Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan leaves behind a complicated legacy
On Thursday, wrestling icon Terry "Hulk Hogan" Bollea died at the age of 71. "WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away," the company said in a statement. "One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s... WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans." Hogan was the first true superstar to emerge in the wrestling industry, capturing a casual audience worldwide and bringing new eyes to the sport. He was an unbelievable draw, both as a baby face and as a heel. From his time as an All-American hero to leading the New World Order and teaming with Randy Savage as part of the "Mega Powers," he has been a staple of the scene for decades. Who can forget his WrestleMania III moment, where he defied the laws of physics to body-slam a 520-pound Andre the Giant? Or, more recently, his match with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson at WrestleMania 18? His last appearance on WWE RAW on Jan. 6 saw him booed throughout, highlighting the rocky legacy Hogan leaves behind. Hogan's universal popularity has plummeted in recent years, primarily due to a racism scandal that led to his removal from the Wrestling Hall of Fame, only to be reinstated in 2018. Nevertheless, the damage had been done. Hogan's outdated and unwelcome outlook on specific aspects of life derailed the final stanza of a legendary career. Still, there's no denying that without Hogan, the wrestling we know and love today wouldn't exist. There wouldn't be WWE on the world's largest streaming platform, or All Elite Wrestling, which is developing into one of the most successful challenger brands. Instead, there would be smaller, more localized promotions, all competing for a sliver of television time. Hogan popularized the sport by bridging the gap between the wrestling ring and Hollywood. During his time in the spotlight, Hogan appeared in movies such as "Rocky III," "No Holds Barred" and "Suburban Commando," all of which helped bring his larger-than-life persona to a new audience. It's no surprise, then, that The Rock, John Cena and Dave Bautista have all made similar jumps in recent years. Hogan leaves behind an everlasting imprint on the wrestling world. Unfortunately, it comes with multiple asterisks; however, that doesn't change what he achieved as the first global wrestling star.
Raiders Add Former Chiefs, Texas DT After Christian Wilkins Release
The Las Vegas Raiders signed former Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Christian Wilkins to a four-year, $110 million deal last offseason. Unfortunately, he only played in five games during the 2024 NFL season due to an injury. Wilkins had not yet returned to the offseason program for the Raiders this year, as he suffered a setback in his recovery process. A bitter, ongoing debate between him and the franchise about how best to rehabilitate his injury led to his release on Thursday. After this sudden move, Las Vegas needed to act quickly to add another defensive tackle to the roster. On Friday, NFL Insider Aaron Wilson reported that the team had been awarded Keondre Coburn off waivers. "#Raiders awarded DT Keondre Coburn off waivers, per a league source," Wilson wrote. Coburn played his college football with the Texas Longhorns and was drafted in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. There, he only played in one game during his rookie season, but won the Super Bowl with the Chiefs. He spent the last one and a half seasons with the Tennessee Titans, where he saw his role marginally increase. Coburn played in 15 contests last season for the Titans, starting one game and recording 14 tackles. The new regime in Las Vegas, spearheaded by head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Spytek, will give Coburn another chance in the NFL. He is just 25 years old and lands with the Raiders after being waived by Tennessee the day prior.
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