Rockets Season PREVIEW | Can Steven Adams Still Make A HIGH-LEVEL Impact After MAJOR Injury?

Houston Rockets face a pivotal season as Steven Adams returns from injury—can he reclaim his status as a must-play game-changer? The dynamic between Adams’ bruising paint presence and the guard play of Reed Sheppard could be the key to unlocking Houston’s offense, but lingering questions about his mobility and durability loom large. Host Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) is joined by sports reporter for Chron.com Michael Shapiro (@mshap2) break down the fierce impact of Adams’ rebounding, screen setting, and interior passing, while weighing lineup permutations featuring Alperen Sengun, Fred VanVleet, and Jabari Smith. The conversation dives into Coach Ime Udoka’s expected double-big rotations, the defense’s potential with Marcus Smart and Amen Thompson, and whether Houston’s identity—anchored in historic offensive rebounding—can hold up throughout a grueling Western Conference campaign. Will Adams’ health be the linchpin of the Rockets’ success or their Achilles’ heel?