ESPN’s Carlos Boozer makes case for Rockets as West’s second-best team

[ASFN Admin]

With 10 wins in their last 11 games, the Rockets are the NBA's hottest team in March 2025. That stretch has lifted Houston (47-26) from No. 5 to No. 2 in the tightly packed Western Conference standings.

That level of consistent play also draws national attention. In a Wednesday segment on ESPN's NBA Today, former NBA star and current league analyst Carlos Boozer argued for Houston being the second-best team in the West (behind only 60-12 Oklahoma City).

When asked to name the West's second-best team, Boozer made his case:

Everybody wants to talk about the Denver Nuggets, the Lakers, the Clippers, and even the Warriors. But I’m going right there in H-Town, with Houston I think they’ve got a star in Alperen Sengun. He’s a 20 (points), 10 (rebounds, and 5 (assists) guy. Baby Jokic, I like that (nickname). He does a great job.

Jalen Green has turned himself into a both-sides-of-the-court guy. He can play defense, and he can score. He can put up 30 (points) a night, if he has to. He’s averaging 22 right now.

They’ve got some veteran guys to go with this young core, Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks locking up (defensively). They’ve got Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr. This team is quietly just going about their business They've won 10 out of 11 (games). They lock teams up. They can score with anybody. And they’re young. Young teams that are this talented are dangerous in the playoffs.

Led by talented young players such as Boozer and Deron Williams, the Utah Jazz upset the Tracy McGrady-led Rockets in a pair of first-round playoff series in 2007 and 2008.

Now, almost 20 years later, Boozer is picking a new generation of Rockets to perhaps have a similar level of postseason success as they embark upon their first playoff run.

ESPN's complete video segment on Houston can be viewed below. As for the regular season, the Rockets will resume play Thursday with a road matchup versus Boozer's former team, the Jazz (16-57). Tipoff from Utah's Delta Center is at 8:00 p.m. Central.

More: By the numbers: As Rockets stack wins, Jalen Green diversifies his game


This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: ESPN’s Carlos Boozer makes case for Rockets as West’s second-best team

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