Kendrick Perkins, an NBA legend and analyst, laid bare the fact that the Houston Rockets, led by Kevin Durant, lack harmony on the floor. The Rockets suffered a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers for the second time in a row, and the team’s imbalanced structure and inconsistency were evident.
Kendrick Perkins Calls Out Lack of Chemistry Among Houston Rockets
The Rockets have a blend of rising stars and veterans and are one of the youngest teams in the league. With Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., and Alperen Şengün still shaping their games, it often becomes difficult for intergenerational players to remain aligned. Ime Udoka also received considerable heat for positioning players in a manner that has only cost them some important wins.
In the recent rematch between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Rockets, Luka Dončić and LeBron James shone through, posting 40 and 30 points, respectively, to extend their winning streak to seven. They had previously defeated Houston 100-92, with strong contributions from their core leaders.
Although Şengün stepped up with 27 points and Amen Thompson added 26, Durant managed only 2 points in the first half and finished with 18 points and 6 rebounds. Shedding light on what might be the root problem behind the team’s skid, Perkins said that the team lacks chemistry and that the players probably go their separate ways after every game.
“They look like a team that doesn’t like each other, they look like a team that has zero chemistry. When I look at this squad I know when they leave the arena, the practice facility, they all go their separate ways. Nobody’s going to dinner together.”
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In the 100-92 loss to the Lakers on March 16, Durant failed to establish rhythm, scoring only 18 points and committing 7 turnovers, way below his usual scoring standard. After the game, he claimed the team should not make him the primary ball-handler down the stretch and said he feels that sometimes he needs to “get out of the way” of his teammates in pivotal possessions.
But the problem wasn’t entirely his. The absence of a true point guard in the wake of Fred VanVleet’s injury layoff was one of the key factors, as Durant struggled to find driving lanes to score. Former player Kenyon Martin supported him and suggested that the blame should fall on coach Udoka for not having offensive plays and constantly putting Durant in difficult situations.
The Houston Rockets will next face the Atlanta Hawks, aiming to snap their losing streak. They are currently battling for playoff seeding in the Western Conference as the regular season nears its end.
