Kevin Durant has the missing piece to take Houston Rockets leap this season, says Imam Shumpert

The Houston Rockets won 52 games last season, but Imam Shumpert believes there is still a leap in them and Kevin Durant, courtesy of a missing piece.

Kevin Durant could only lead the Houston Rockets to 5th in the West last season, before getting bounced out by the Lakers in six games in Round 1.

Despite his age, Durant was an ever-present member for Ime Udoka, but the ceiling of this Rockets team was decided even before the season began.

That is because they were missing a key piece of the puzzle, who is back now, and Imam Shumpert is predicting a leap for the Rockets as a result.

Kevin Durant’s Rockets take a leap with Fred VanVleet

Fred VanVleet is the kind of steady hand at PG who can dictate the pace of the game, get his teammates involved, while also having the ability to go scorching hot on occasion to win games with his shooting.

Rockets, however, received none of that last season, as VanVleet picked up a season-ending injury before the start of the last season.

He was brutally missed by the Rockets as Durant had to take on scoring and playmaking duties. It led to 52 wins in the regular season, but the Lakers could easily afford to throw bodies at him in the playoffs and tire him out since their offence was one-dimensional.

That changes with VanVleet’s return this season, who is almost like a new signing for them. Imam Shumpert has high hopes for the return of this missing piece.

He said [via ESPN]: “Durant is going to continue to get his buckets, but last playoffs, it had a lot to do with not having a traditional PG to get him the ball where the double team is not happening.

“It works a little better when he works in a second-size situation. They are the spots he likes. It works a little better that way.”

This is a new partnership for the Rockets, as Durant and VanVleet have not played an official game together yet, so there will be some growing pains as they become familiar with each other.

At the same time, the potential is immense, because these are two of the most intelligent players in the league on and off the ball, and can help improve each other even in their advancing age.

The Rockets could be a sneaky championship contender if they stay fit and mesh well with each other.

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