Rockets LaunchPod

Happy New Year! 2024 is starting on a great note for the Rockets (17-15), who defeated Brooklyn and Detroit by double digits thanks in large part to spectacular play from Alperen Sengun. With that in mind, Friday’s show explores whether Houston’s third-year big man can earn All-Star honors this season, as well as his potential to receive a maximum salaried contract extension in the offseason. Othe...

Karthik Prasad (@StanfordKP) joins Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves for a roundtable chat regarding NBA trade season, which unofficially begins each December 15—the annual date at which most players who signed new contracts in the previous offseason can be dealt. From a Rockets perspective, this means that players who signed deals in 2023 free agency (including Jock Landale’s tradable contract ) can now...

For a second time in under two months, the Rockets (12-9) have won at least four straight games, and they’re currently on pace to go 47-35 for the 2023-24 season as a whole. This time, Houston is doing it even amid a sluggish week by third-year prospects Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun. So, how are the Rockets getting it done? Hosted by Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves, Friday’s episode (sponsored by Kar...

The Rockets continue to excel at home, where they are 8-1, but struggle on the road, where they remain the NBA’s only winless (0-8) team. One reason is Houston’s inconsistent offense, which ranks No. 20 in the league in net rating. Tuesday’s episode explores areas for potential improvement, including what optimal roles and usage should be for key prospects such as Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., an...

Friday’s episode reviews the extreme peaks and valleys of Jalen Green this season and explores strategies that Rockets coach Ime Udoka could adopt in hopes of minimizing the low points. With Houston (7-6) ranking No. 18 in the NBA in offense, Green appears to be the key variable. Other topics include insight on how Udoka and the Rockets have built a top-five defense and the implications of Amen Th...

Tuesday’s episode of The Lager Line , sponsored by Karbach Brewing, features reaction from Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves to Houston’s six-game winning streak. Rockets topics include the roles of veterans such as Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, and Jeff Green in closing out games; Alperen Sengun’s evolution into a star big man; Ime Udoka’s impressive coaching decisions; and what to make of inconsistency...

After an 0-3 start to the 2023-24 season, Houston enters this week at 2-3 and having won two straight games by an average margin of 14 points. Monday’s episode explores reasons behind the improvement, led by Ime Udoka’s new-look defense and positive signs from Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, Alperen Sengun, and Jae’Sean Tate. The show also breaks down the uneven start by top prospects Jalen Green an...

Jose Lopez, senior creative director for the Rockets, joins Friday’s show with exclusive details on the process leading to Houston’s new City Edition uniforms and corresponding court at Toyota Center for the 2023-24 NBA season. In an extended interview, Lopez explains the process of working with the league office and apparel manufacturer Nike on jersey development, as well as creative insight on w...

Tuesday’s episode previews the start of the 2023-24 regular season for the Rockets (at Orlando and San Antonio, then a seven-game homestand) while also offering key themes and storylines to watch as the year progresses. Discussion topics include how Jabari Smith Jr. can build off an encouraging preseason; questions over Alperen Sengun’s fit with new coach Ime Udoka; perspective on Rafael Stone’s r...

Gretchen Sheirr, president of business operations for the Rockets, joins Saturday’s The Lager Line podcast to discuss what’s new for the 2023-24 team and beyond. Discussion topics include Houston’s offseason roster changes and why that sparked the “Liftoff” theme; what the newly formed Space City Home Network (SCHN) could mean to fans watching on television; and how the latest $30-million renovati...

Saturday’s episode features analysis from Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves regarding the first two games of the 2023-24 NBA preseason for the Rockets. Topics include Houston’s improved defensive principles under Ime Udoka; why Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson are among the early standouts; and whether Cam Whitmore can force his way into the regular-season rotation.

Wednesday’s show features reaction from Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves to Houston’s recent signing of veteran wing Reggie Bullock . The episode also breaks down key takeaways and quotes from Monday’s media day and the ensuing start of 2023-24 Rockets training camp in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Fresh off Rockets Media Day at Toyota Center, Monday’s episode features analysis from Ben DuBose on key themes and takeaways. Topics include Houston’s new culture under Ime Udoka and a new-look coaching staff; how the additions of several veterans could play a key role in the 2023-24 season; and why Kevin Porter Jr. already appears to be something of an afterthought for the organization.

Thursday’s episode features long-form analysis by Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves of the continued Kevin Porter Jr. fallout and what Houston’s future looks like without him. Discussion topics include plausible trade options; how losing Porter affects other players on the current team; and what the failed Porter experiment ultimately says (and doesn’t say) about the Rockets’ front office and ownership.

Jeff Pearlman, bestselling author of the book ( Showtime ) on which HBO’s Winning Time television show is based, joins our Ben DuBose to discuss how storylines related to the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers shaped the modern NBA. Topics include Houston’s role as a foil to the Lakers; highlights and key moments from the show; and why it still has relevance to fans outside of Los Angeles. Friday’s show als...

Monday’s abbreviated episode features reaction from Ben DuBose to the news of Kevin Porter Jr.’s arrest in New York for an alleged domestic assault and strangulation , including why his time with the Rockets is likely over and what it means for the franchise moving forward.

Wednesday’s episode features insight on Houston’s future draft outlook relative to other teams, and why it could be better than a recent Bleacher Report article believes . Other topics include key takeaways from Dillon Brooks’ performance on Canada’s 2023 FIBA World Cup team, as well as the implications of Oklahoma City waiving Usman Garuba and TyTy Washington Jr. and what it says about Rockets ge...

In Friday’s show, Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves react to Houston’s newly released 2023-24 schedule and whispers of a potential Joel Embiid deal down the line. If Embiid asks out of tumultuous situation in Philadelphia, as many around the NBA eventually expect him to do , should Rockets general manager Rafael Stone pursue the 29-year-old reigning MVP? Our latest episode explores the pros and cons, inc...

Monday’s mini-episode breaks down the turmoil involving James Harden and Daryl Morey and how the Rockets are connected, both from the duo’s many previous years in Houston as well as Harden’s reunion flirtation prior to 2023 free agency. Our Ben DuBose explains how we got here, what it says about the Rockets, and why the door for a Harden return is likely shut for good.

In Tuesday’s episode, Rockets podcasters Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves react to the latest news and rumors surrounding the team. With third-year guard Jalen Green off to a strong start with the U.S. Select Team, what does that mean for his potential performance in the NBA’s upcoming 2023-24 season? Furthermore, with Green as a leading storyline, which Houston players have the most to gain (or lose) o...

Sunday’s episode breaks down all the key Rockets takeaways from a 5-1 stint at the NBA’s 2023 summer league, including impressive showings by Jabari Smith Jr., Cam Whitmore, and Ben Sullivan. The episode closes out with a look at a pivotal offseason for third-year guard Jalen Green, who is joining the U.S. Select Team to participate in training camp for the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Rookie point guard Amen Thompson was extremely impressive in his Houston debut, and second-year Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. scored 29 second-half points and drilled a buzzer-beating 3-pointer for a feel-good victory to open 2023 summer league play. That’s the good news from Friday night, which also included a strong two-way performance by Tari Eason. The bad was that Thompson sprained his ank...

In a whirlwind start to the NBA’s 2023 free agency window, the Houston Rockets landed two of their three preferred targets in Toronto guard Fred VanVleet and Memphis wing Dillon Brooks. They missed out, however, on Milwaukee big man Brook Lopez. The Rockets also had a string of other deals as they reshuffled their roster for new head coach Ime Udoka, sending out players such as KJ Martin, Usman Ga...

In their final preview episode, Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves offer one last look at Houston’s goals entering 2023 NBA free agency, which starts at 5:00 p.m. Central on Friday. The Rockets should have a league-leading figure of approximately $60 million in available financial space beneath the salary cap. Is Houston’s apparent pivot from a James Harden-led offseason the correct choice? And if any pur...

In a weekend episode, Rockets podcasters Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves offer their initial reactions to Houston landing Amen Thompson (No. 4 pick, Overtime Elite) and Cam Whitmore (No. 20, Villanova) in the first round of the 2023 NBA draft. After unexpectedly securing two of the draft’s most desirable prospects, Houston is receiving high grades from NBA analysts. As such, the podcast explores what e...