As the Houston Rockets attempt to put together a run at a championship this year, they will depend heavily on the rapid development of both Amen Thompson and second-year guard Reed Sheppard in the absence of starting point guard Fred VanVleet.
However, while much speculation has been given to the ceiling these players can reach given their new roles, NBA legend Jeff Teague has serious doubt about their ability to do so, and he believes that VanVleet's injury may have already ended their title hopes before they have begun.
While Houston does have the benefit of a superstar scorer in Kevin Durant and are poised to yet again put forward one of the most intense defensive fronts in the league, their season ultimately hinges on Thompson's ability to become a more-than-capable facilitator: a gamble that the Rockets are forced to make.