The Kevin Durant to Houston Rockets experiment is off to a scorching start, and former All-Star guard Jeff Teague is already weighing in on the big question: are they real title contenders?
On a recent episode of â520 in the Morningâ, a clip that raced to more than 119,000 views in under 24 hours, Teague and the crew broke down Durantâs fit, Alperen Sengunâs leap and whether this version of Houston can actually get through Oklahoma City and Denver in the West.
The Rockets entered Friday at 10-3, sitting first in the Southwest Division and near the top of the Western Conference after a five-game win streak. Durant is averaging 25.5 points on just under 50% shooting, while Sengun is putting up a Jokic-lite line at 23.4 points, 10.4 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game.
Teagueâs verdict: the formula is real, but the Rockets still have one huge test to pass.
Jeff Teague: Rockets Have a Formula With KD & âBaby Jokicâ
Teagueâs breakdown came right after Houstonâs 114-104 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, where Sengun went for 28-11-7 and Durant added 20 points in a bruising road victory.
On the pod, Teague and the crew gushed over Sengun, even calling him âbaby Jokerâ and saying if he lives in the 24-10-7 range, thatâs All-NBA territory. In their words, if Nikola Jokic is an A+, Sengun is already pushing A-minus.
They also highlighted how Amen Thompson has unlocked another gear as a dunker spot finisher and secondary ballhandler, instead of being forced into a full-time point guard role. With Durant drawing doubles and playmaking from the elbows, Thompsonâs cutting and athleticism have made him âuntradeableâ in their eyes.
The recent numbers back up the eye test. Durant and Sengun have already piled up multiple monster games together, including a win over Orlando where Durant dropped 35 points and Sengun added 30 points, 12 boards and 8 assists in overtime.
Add in Houstonâs improved spacing and physical front line, and Teague was comfortable saying the Rockets have clearly âfigured something outâ with Durant at the helm.
The Big Question: Can This Style Beat OKC and Denver?
But Teague stopped short of crowning them West favorites.
He circled one major concern: late-game creation and ballhandling against elite defenses. On the show, Teague pointed out that a lot of Houstonâs offense right now flows through Sengun bringing the ball up and initiating â great against most teams, but a potential problem versus the Thunder or Nuggets over a seven-game series.
In Teagueâs view, teams with tough point-of-attack defenders are going to blitz Sengun and blow up those sets, forcing someone else to consistently create off the dribble. Without injured Fred VanVleet and with a thin guard room after the Durant trade, thatâs still an open question.
âCan you beat OKC? Can you beat Denver?â became the refrain. Teagueâs answer felt like: âNot with this guard play yet.â
What It Means for Durant & the Rocketsâ Ceiling
On paper, the resume is already contender-level:
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10-3 record and best Rockets start since the Hakeem days.
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A top-tier duo in Durant and Sengun, both averaging over 23 points with strong efficiency.
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Multiple statement wins, including blowouts and a gritty road victory in Cleveland.
Teagueâs take lands in the middle lane fans usually hate: yes, theyâre contenders, but not untouchable.
Until Houston proves it can survive the pressure of Shai Gilgeous-Alexanderâs Thunder and Jokicâs Nuggets in a playoff setting, Teague isnât ready to put them above the defending champs. But with Durant looking comfortable, Sengun pushing into All-NBA conversation, and a formula that clearly works against most of the league, the Rockets are firmly in the title picture, and everyone, from Jeff Teague to Bill Simmons, is now treating them that way.
If this is just the early version of the KDâSengun partnership, Teagueâs âbaby Jokicâ line might end up underselling how loud Houstonâs window really is.
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