The Rockets heavy emphasis on offense and light defense has aroused controversy. Can the historic offense make up for the serious decline on the defensive end?

Translator's Note: The original article was published on ClutchPoints. The data in the article are as of the time of publication of the original article (October 31, local time). The dates and times involved are all local time. The opinions expressed in this article have nothing to do with the translator or the platform.

Under the leadership of head coach Ime Uduka, the Rockets' rise is built on defense. But now, with the addition of Kevin Durant and a real possibility of championship contention, the Rockets are experiencing an identity crisis.

The Rockets currently rank first in the league in offensive efficiency (127.3). This data will break the previous team record (115.5) set in 2019. However, the Rockets' defensive efficiency ranked fourth in the league a year ago, but this season they ranked only 19th. In fact, the Rockets are the second-worst defensive team in the league when Alperon Shinjing isn't on the floor. According to the plus-minus index, Shin Kyung is the only player in the current starting lineup with a positive defensive plus-minus.

With this historical level of offensive firepower, defensive issues seem to be irrelevant. The Rockets have seven players who can score in double figures and have a top star like Durant. But history says otherwise: Only four teams in NBA history that failed to rank among the top ten in defensive efficiency have won the NBA championship (coincidentally, the 1995 Rockets were one of them).

In the first four games of the season, the Rockets allowed more than 108 points in each game, although none of their opponents ranked in the top 14 in offensive efficiency. Overall, the Rockets have the ninth-easiest schedule in the league so far.

So, what has changed?

The Rockets have obviously paid more attention to offense this offseason. First, they introduced Durant, a move entirely for his finishing ability, while sending away defensive stalwart Dillon Brooks. They also re-signed Steven Adams and put him into the starting lineup.

While Adams remains top-notch on the offensive glass, the twin-tower lineup leaves the Rockets vulnerable on the defensive end—especially when deploying their 2-3 zone defense. Opponents ranked fifth in the league in 3-point shooting percentage against the Rockets, and a lot of that can be attributed to that defensive system.

Injury problems have also been exacerbated: the Rockets lost their perimeter defensive leader Fred VanVleet, who suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament before the start of the season. And the Rockets are still waiting for the debut of Dorian Finney-Smith, who they signed in the offseason largely because of his defensive ability.

But this also brought some unexpected results. Moving Amen Thompson to point guard has been effective on the offensive end. But it's also a costly tactic for one of the league's best defenders. Thompson now has to put more energy into the offensive end, and he has suffered cramps in two of the first four games. Moreover, he is expected to play at least 500 more minutes this season than in any previous season.

VanVleet's injury also increased Reid Sheppard's role. And while Shepard can provide some firepower on the offensive end, he is a liability on the defensive end, with opponents often targeting him in the half-court offense. As his playing time increases, Sheppard's defensive numbers have declined even further this year.

These are moves that prioritize offense over defense, a clear shift from Uduka's coaching philosophy.

In addition, some external factors also have an impact. Scoring across the league is up nearly 4%, as are fouls and free throws (up nearly 23%). In addition, with the new personnel configuration, the Rockets can try different things early in the season, such as adjusting the lineup, rotation and defensive strategy, to see what works.

And, perhaps most importantly, this year's Rockets are a different type of team. Last season's young team had to rely on defense to support itself and win games with difficulty. This year is different. Now, the offense can lead them to victory. With former MVP Durant and current MVP candidate Shen Jing, the Rockets can afford some lax defense...at least in the regular season.

The Rockets cannot forget what brought them to where they are today. It's like a kid who completely forgets about his buddy after getting a girlfriend. The Rockets' newfound offensive firepower shouldn't come at the expense of their defensive foundation.

As the season progresses and the rotation stabilizes, the defense should improve. And if the Rockets want to realize their championship potential, they must improve the team's defense. Because no matter how good the offense looks this week, after all, defense wins championships.