3 lessons the Houston Rockets can learn from this year’s playoffs

The Houston Rockets had a solid 2023-24 season. They were the most improved team in the NBA. However, they did not achieve the ultimate goal.

The team missed the playoffs. This is not a problem. The Rockets are on an upward trajectory. They can feel satisfied with the progress they have made in 2023-2024.

Yet their absence leaves a void. Rockets fans miss their team. That said, there’s still a lot they can learn from watching the playoffs.

After all, the teams that have progressed are the ones that are in the position the Rockets want to be in. This organization can learn a lot from what’s happened so far, and so can its fans.

Here are three lessons for the Rockets from the 2023-24 playoff results so far.

Almost every NBA team is built through the draft – at the beginning. In time, they will have to decide whether they will trade some – if not all – of their young core for one or two superstars.

Once a team acquires two elite players via the trade market, we generally refer to them as a “super team.” So far, these teams haven’t had much success in the playoffs. The Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers all suffered first-round eliminations.

The language here is ambiguous. What constitutes a “super team”? Do Timberwolves count after trading for Rudy Gobert? The Celtics surely count as a superteam — and they’re still in the mix.

Of course. Still, the early exits of these teams count for something. Meanwhile, the continued success of teams like the Nuggets, Thunder, and Knicks has been remarkable. The Rockets may be forced to trade for a superstar in time, but they should see what they have with this young core first.