Rockets Science Podcast

The Rockets are no longer undefeated, but the vibes in Houston are still high!

Dylan and Taylor recap Houston's first loss against the Dallas Mavericks and the bounce-back win over Oklahoma City. They examine Alperen Sengun's importance to the offense, Jabari Smith Jr.'s early scoring leap, and Marcus Smart's impact off the bench.

Then, we introduce our NBA Starter Tier Lists! Where do Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr., and Alperen Sengun rank among the league's starters at their respective positions?

0:00 – Welcome Back to Rockets Science

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The 82–0 dream is officially over.

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Houston's first loss and the expectations moving forward.

1:12 – Rockets vs. Mavericks: What Went Wrong?

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Houston's shooting struggles and costly turnovers.

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Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg's performances.

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Missing Sengun and the limitations of Houston's center rotation.

6:45 – Amen Thompson & Houston's Defensive Matchups

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Can Amen handle the NBA's bigger scoring wings?

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Defensive versatility and potential playoff matchups.

11:36 – Crunch-Time Concerns

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Houston's half-court offense in close games.

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The importance of young players taking responsibility.

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Why Sengun's offensive connectivity matters.

17:22 – Rockets vs. Thunder: Jabari's Breakout

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Jabari Smith Jr.'s second 30-point performance of the season.

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His development as a catch-and-shoot and one-to-two-dribble scorer.

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Comparisons to championship contributors like Andrew Wiggins and Pascal Siakam.

29:59 – Marcus Smart's Impact

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Taylor responds to the Marcus Smart criticism.

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Smart's leadership, playmaking, and defensive communication.

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How Smart and Reed Sheppard offer different strengths.

35:51 – What's Happening to Oklahoma City?

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The Thunder's mounting injuries and shrinking depth.

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's increased responsibilities.

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Whether OKC's championship window could be in trouble.

48:53 – Introducing Our NBA Starter Tier Lists

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Explaining our five tiers, from “He's One of Them Ones” to “I'll Pay You to Take Them Away.”

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Ranking starters by their positions and evaluating Houston's starting five.

52:28 – Point Guard Rankings: Where Does Fred Belong?

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Fred VanVleet in the Jeff Teague Zone.

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Debates involving Jamal Murray, LaMelo Ball, and other starting guards.

59:06 – Shooting Guard Rankings: Amen vs. Stephon Castle

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Amen Thompson's place among the league's best shooting guards.

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Does Stephon Castle have the offensive edge?

1:06:35 – Small Forward Rankings: KD vs. Cooper Flagg

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Is Kevin Durant still the best small forward in basketball?

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Taylor makes his case for Cooper Flagg.

1:12:42 – Power Forward Rankings: Jabari's Place in the League

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Why Jabari belongs in the Jeff Teague Zone.

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Debating Scottie Barnes and other top forwards.

1:21:37 – Center Rankings: Is Sengun Top Three?

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Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama lead the position.

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Sengun vs. Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Duren.

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What separates the elite centers?

1:29:19 – Final Takeaways & Looking Ahead

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Does Houston have a championship-caliber starting five?

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Upcoming matchups against Boston, Minnesota, and Phoenix.

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Where to find our tier lists on social media.

Check out our NBA Starter Tier Lists and join the debates!

Instagram & X: @RSciencePod

Follow Rockets Science on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, share the episode, and let us know where you would rank the Rockets' starters.

Episode ChaptersFollow Rockets Science

The Rockets are off to a 5–0 start, and the vibes in Houston are immaculate!

Dylan and Taylor discuss Houston's early-season success, major injuries across the NBA, and whether the Rockets have a legitimate opportunity to secure the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.

We also dive into the future of Inside the NBA, debate a major change to the NBA Cup format, and break down Houston's upcoming Cup opponents and challenging schedule.

0:00 – Welcome Back to Rockets Science

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The Rockets are undefeated at 5–0.

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Houston's early success is gaining attention across the NBA.

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The vibes are immaculate!

1:39 – NBA Injuries & the Western Conference Race

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How injuries could impact the race for the No. 1 seed.

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Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace's absences in Oklahoma City.

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Anthony Edwards and Minnesota's outlook.

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Houston's ability to handle injuries and maintain momentum.

9:01 – The Future of Inside the NBA

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Ernie Johnson's reported decision to step away.

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Could Charles Barkley follow?

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The impact of the iconic broadcast crew on basketball culture.

12:11 – Is the NBA Cup Good for Basketball?

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Why the tournament has helped early-season engagement.

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The unique courts, scheduling, and tournament atmosphere.

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What the NBA could improve.

15:37 – Should the NBA Cup Replace the All-Star Game?

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Dylan proposes making the NBA Cup championship the main event of All-Star Sunday.

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Why meaningful basketball could attract more casual fans.

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Taylor weighs in on the future of All-Star Weekend.

20:27 – Houston's NBA Cup Group Breakdown

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Dallas Mavericks

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Utah Jazz

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Denver Nuggets

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Phoenix Suns

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Can Houston finish group play undefeated?

25:39 – Looking Ahead at the Rockets' Schedule

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Upcoming matchups against Oklahoma City, Boston, Minnesota, and Denver.

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How the next stretch could reveal Houston's true ceiling.

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Previewing our upcoming Thunder game recap.

27:24 – Can Houston Sustain Its Early Shooting Success?

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The Rockets' impressive early three-point defense.

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Whether their shooting percentages can hold up.

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Why the upcoming opponents will provide a valuable test.

29:33 – Final Thoughts & What's Next

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Houston's early momentum and NBA Cup expectations.

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Thank you for helping Rockets Science surpass 100 listens!

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Looking ahead to our next game recap.

Part 2: Players on New Teams We're Excited to Watch

We're attaching the second half of our previous discussion, highlighting ten NBA players on new teams that we're looking forward to watching this season.

Thanks for listening to Rockets Science! We appreciate everyone helping us grow our basketball community.

Episode ChaptersBonus Content

Welcome Rockets Nation! Dylan Birdsell and Taylor Skaggs are back on Rockets Science to break down Houston's undefeated 3–0 start to the NBA season!

We kick things off with the Rockets' thrilling victory over the San Antonio Spurs, including Amen Thompson's incredible game-saving block on Victor Wembanyama and Alperen Sengün's fourth-quarter takeover. We dive into Sengün's unique post-scoring style, his ability to neutralize elite rim protection, and how his offensive success fits alongside Kevin Durant.

Next, we examine Houston's early-season depth, the concerns surrounding the backup center rotation, and what the win over Atlanta tells us about the team's identity.

Finally, things get heated as we debate Reed Sheppard's role in Houston. Does his shooting deserve more consistent opportunities, or do his limitations as a primary ball handler and defender justify Ime Udoka's approach? We break down both sides of one of the biggest early-season conversations among Rockets fans.

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Amen Thompson vs. Wemby: Breaking down the incredible game-saving block and Amen's evolving finishing ability.

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Sengün's Fourth-Quarter Takeover: Why his footwork, leverage, and physicality create problems for even the NBA's best rim protectors.

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Sengün and Kevin Durant: Finding the right offensive balance when both players can take over a game.

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Houston's Backup Center Problem: Concerns about Steven Adams and Clint Capela, plus the possibility of Jabari Smith Jr. playing small-ball center.

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The Hawks Win: Houston's depth, balanced scoring, and the importance of perimeter shooting.

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The Reed Sheppard Debate: Shooting gravity versus rim pressure, defensive limitations, player development, and whether Reed deserves a more consistent rotation role.

Approximate timestamps starting from the "Welcome Rockets Nation" introduction. Adjust after editing.

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00:00 — Welcome Rockets Nation! First week of Rockets basketball

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03:10 — Rockets vs. Spurs: Amen's unbelievable block on Wemby

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06:40 — Alperen Sengün's fourth-quarter takeover

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15:35 — Balancing Sengün's offense with Kevin Durant

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22:50 — Amen Thompson's growth and finishing around the rim

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30:30 — Concerns about Houston's backup center rotation

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36:40 — Rockets vs. Hawks: Depth and balanced scoring

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41:15 — Reed Sheppard: Does he deserve more minutes?

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47:30 — The argument against a guaranteed rotation role

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55:30 — Reed's development vs. Houston's championship expectations

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60:30 — Final thoughts on Houston's 3–0 start

Where do you stand on Reed Sheppard? Should Udoka give him a consistent role, or should his opportunities depend on the matchup and how he's performing?

Let us know what you think and follow Rockets Science for more Houston Rockets breakdowns, NBA discussions, and basketball debates.

Coming in Part 2: Our most exciting players on new teams around the NBA!

In This EpisodeEpisode ChaptersJoin the Conversation

Opening Night is in the books, and Rockets Science is back to break down Houston's first matchup against the Dallas Mavericks!

We kick things off with our Opening Night experience before diving into Kevin Durant's effortless start. We discuss the steady presence of Marcus Smart and Fred VanVleet, how their ability to control the game impacts the guys around them, and whether we're already seeing the beginnings of a new identity in Houston.

We also take a look at the other side of the court, including Cooper Flagg's performance for Dallas, before wrapping things up with one of our biggest storylines to watch moving forward: Where does Reed Sheppard fit into this Rockets rotation?

One game down, a whole season of basketball ahead.

Welcome back to the lab. 🧪🏀

Topics: Rockets Opening Night | Kevin Durant | Marcus Smart | Fred VanVleet | Houston's Identity | Cooper Flagg | Reed Sheppard

#RocketsScience #HoustonRockets #RunAsOne #NBA #KevinDurant

Welcome to the lab! 🧪🚀

In the debut episode of Rockets Science, we're kicking things off with a little Houston Rockets recent history, a new era of basketball, and plenty of hoops talk.

We start by introducing ourselves and sharing how we became Rockets fans before diving into the history between Kevin Durant and Houston. With KD now in the picture, how does his arrival change the identity the Rockets have spent the last four years building?

From there, we break down some of the biggest pieces of this roster, including Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson, and Houston's bench. We also take a look around the Western Conference and discuss where the Rockets fit into an increasingly competitive playoff picture.

And to close things out, we're taking a trip down memory lane with a draft of our favorite forgotten Rockets players from over the years.

A little history, a little analysis, and probably some questionable basketball opinions.

Welcome to Rockets Science. The experiment starts now. 🏀

Follow the show for Rockets conversations, game reactions, player breakdowns, and discussions from around the NBA.