Following the unfortunate news of Fred VanVleet's injury from earlier this week, many fans have now started wondering about the possible ripple effects it could have on the OKC Thunder.
While no one should now label the Houston Rockets as mere pushovers out in the Western Conference -- after all, they still have Alperent Sengun, Kevin Durant, and Amen Thompson in tow --, it's undeniable that, without their star guard leading the charge, their chances of taking home the Larry O'Brien Trophy have clearly diminished.
In fact, Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report now believes that the loss of VanVleet could severely curb the length of Houston's playoff run, as he suggested that his injury all but solidifies the matchup that will be seen during the 2026 Western Conference Finals.