As the Houston Rockets have won three straight, climbing to a 3-2 record after their first five games, their offense has looked spectacular with blockbuster acquisition Kevin Durant leading the charge.
Yet, the fact that they are first in the NBA in 3-point percentage almost two weeks into the season could be one of the most surprising storylines in the league so far this year, and it shows exactly the effect that Durant has had on the team's offensive potency.
Although Houston accelerated their timeline greatly last year, climbing to the second seed in the Western Conference on the shoulders of their hard-nosed defensive identity, this radical change could be the key to them becoming true championship contenders.
Houston is the league's best perimeter shooting team so far this season
As the Rockets' young core came to fruition last season, their offense, frankly, did not. They finished the season with the 12th best offensive rating in the league, struggling at times to score in late-game situations when opposing defenses could key in on Alperen Sengun, their star scorer. Moreover, they shot just 35.3% from 3-point range on the season: a mark that was only good for 21st in the NBA.
However, with Durant on the roster, this is no longer possible, and opposing defenses are paying for it.
Through five games, Houston leads the NBA in 3P% with an astounding 45.4%, and contributions from beyond the arc have come from seemingly every part of the roster.
Sengun has shot 52.9% from beyond the arc, adding a layer to his game that could make him, quite possibly, a top three center in the NBA if it holds. Jabari Smith Jr. has shot 36.7% and has looked exceedingly confident in his jumper compared to a season ago. Even Josh Okogie, who has surprisingly ascended into a starting role, has shot 60% from beyond the arc on limited volume.
The star, however, has of course been Durant. having shot 40.9% from 3-point range on high volume. As usual, he has been one of the most lethal shooters in the league, and his continuous ability to hit the three ball has made their offense infinitely more dangerous than it would be otherwise.
Teams can no longer key in on Sengun in the paint, in part because of Sengun's emerging perimeter shot but also because of the offensive power that is inherent in Durant's game.
While this astonishing clip will likely not hold up for the duration of the season, the team's offensive abilities have evidently changed radically since last season, and it could be the recipe for another strong regular-season finish this year (and perhaps playoff success).