The current state of the Rockets sparks discussion! Jeremy Lin states that Sengun is key, Perkins criticizes lack of team culture.

On March 26 Beijing time, the Rockets face the Timberwolves. Currently ranked 6th in the West, their performance differs from external expectations. Jeremy Lin joined the NBA TODAY program today, discussing related topics with guests.

Discussing the Rockets' current situation, Jeremy Lin stated: "Regarding the Rockets and Durant, I think for them to succeed, the secondary and tertiary stars must excel. Whether he was with the Thunder or the Warriors, he needed the second and third scoring options to step up. Therefore, in my view, Sengun is crucial for this team. When he scores 20+ points, the Rockets' record is 22 wins and 8 losses. So the core issue is that Durant requires sufficient support from his teammates."

Perkins criticized: "The Rockets lack genuine team culture. Consider how many times Udoka has publicly criticized this team? Durant specifically responded to what I said on the program last week, where I mentioned the team seemed disconnected. He deliberately addressed that issue."

"The Rockets need a locker room leader, someone who can unite the team as a cohesive force. VanVleet is the vocal presence, but he isn't playing. They need someone to step up on the court. Moreover, it's evident that Sengun's defensive level must improve; there's no compromise on that. Regarding team configuration, Udoka is also striving to find balance. When Shepherd is on the court, the team struggles defensively, but offense improves."

Perkins continued: "Udoka is trying to start Shepherd. In recent games, placing him in the starting lineup indeed yielded positive offensive results, especially in the win against the Heat, where KD received passes in the corner without initiating plays from the top, hitting several corner threes, one of which allowed him to surpass Jordan. However, the downside was exposed against the Bulls, where opponents relentlessly targeted Shepherd's defense. The issue is, with 70 games played, still experimenting with lineups and searching for form, how much time do they really have left?"

How far do you think the Rockets can go in the playoffs this season? Feel free to share your views.