As the Houston Rockets have etched out an excellent start to the season, settling into a 8-3 record following their 140-116 over the Portland Trail Blazers in NBA Cup action on Friday night, they have looked like one of the most dangerous offensive teams in the league.
Yet, their turnover numbers, which have increased in the season-long absence of starting point guard Fred VanVleet, could prevent them from being genuine championship contenders, and, with each successive game in which these numbers remain inflated, more concern for their long-term offensive viability arises.
While Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard have done an excellent job adjusting to their new roles in VanVleet's absence, the team, evidently, still has a long way to go before they can prevent the sort of fool-proof offensive attack that will cement them as a contending team.