In trading for Kevin Durant, the Houston Rockets made a definitive move to revolutionize their offense, adding one of the best pure scorers of all time to their roster while sacrificing minimal pieces of their growing core.
Yet, despite the skill-set and offensive potency Durant will bring to Houston, their path to success still lies in the hard-nosed defensive identity they displayed in full force last season, and, in order to continue that path, they must still lean on players like Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr.
While the loss of Dillon Brooks in the Durant trade represents the absence of a major defensive piece, the core of their defense is still intact, and the Rockets must capitalize upon this fact if they wish to contend.