When Kevin Durant found himself at the centre of yet another burner account controversy earlier this season, it felt like familiar off-court noise. Reports suggested anonymous criticism aimed at teammates Alperen Şengün and Jabari Smith Jr., raising questions about chemistry inside a promising Houston Rockets locker room. At the time, it was easy to dismiss as internet drama.
Now, watching as Houston’s playoff hopes die after going down 3-0 against the Los Angeles Lakers unfold, those whispers don’t feel so easy to ignore.
A series slipping away fast
Through the opening games of this first-round matchup against a Lakers team missing two of their best players, the Rockets haven’t just struggled—they’ve looked overwhelmed. Los Angeles holds a 3–0 lead, which, as we all know, is a series lead that has never been overcome in NBA history.
The problems are everywhere:
- Inefficient shooting (as low as ~37–40% from the field across games)
- Abysmal three-point accuracy (around 24% in Game 2)
- Turnovers and stalled offensive sets, especially under pressure
Even more concerning, this isn’t just a cold streak—it’s systemic. Analysts have described Houston’s offence as “awful to watch,” pointing to poor structure and decision-making.
Meanwhile, the Lakers—led by a 41 year-old LeBron James—have looked composed, disciplined, and ruthlessly efficient when it matters.
The young core: not ready for the moment
This was supposed to be the coming-out party for Houston’s next generation. Instead, it’s been a reality check.
- Alperen Şengün: Putting up numbers, but inefficient and struggling against physical defence
- Amen Thompson: Inconsistent on both ends, particularly defensively
- Jabari Smith Jr.: Streaky shooting and limited impact when it matters most
In Game 1, that trio (along with other young contributors) combined for a brutal shooting night, going just 24-for-71. On paper, game 3 looks better, as the trio combined for 83 points on 31/57 shooting, but, despite being up 6 with 25 seconds left, poor decision-making in the clutch combined with an excellent OT display from Marcus Smart condemned Houston to a 3-0 series deficit.
This isn’t just about missed shots—it’s about poise. The Lakers are executing like a veteran group; the Rockets look like a team still figuring itself out in real time.
Was Durant… right?
Here’s where things get uncomfortable.
The alleged burner account criticism—questioning Şengün’s two-way ability, Smith’s confidence, and the overall reliability of the roster—was widely condemned when it surfaced. And rightly so; airing out teammates anonymously is a terrible look.
But based on what we’re seeing in this series, some of those basketball critiques don’t feel entirely off-base.
That doesn’t excuse how it was said—but it does raise a harder question:
Were those concerns actually reflective of real flaws in this team?
Because right now, against playoff-level defence and intensity, those flaws are impossible to ignore.
Bigger than one series
This isn’t just about being down 0–2. It’s about what that deficit reveals.
Houston entered the playoffs as a dangerous, ascending team with star power and depth. They were thoroughly favoured against an injury-riddled Lakers team. Instead, they’ve looked:
- Predictable offensively
- Over-reliant on isolation
- Lacking a reliable second-option when Durant gets double-teamed
- Mentally a step behind a championship-proven opponent
Even without two of their three best players, the Lakers have been the clearly superior team.
Where do the Rockets go from here?
With them down 3-0 now, questions shift from how they can get back into the series, to what moves the front office must make this offseason in response to this embarrassment. They’ll have many questions to answer:
Is this roster constructed to win at the highest level?
Can the young core develop quickly enough to maximise Durant’s remaining window?
And perhaps most importantly—does this team actually fit together?
Because right now, the Rockets don’t just look like a team losing a series.
They look like a team being exposed.