The expectation at the beginning of the season was that the Houston Rockets would be title contenders. With the trade for Kevin Durant , the Rockets were poised to make noise in the Western Conference. As the injuries and consistent struggles in specific areas mounted up, the Rockets' season ultimately ended in the same spot as the year before: in the first round. There were still expectations to go farther than that, and it seemed possible with the matchup of the injured Los Angeles Lakers. With or without Durant, the Rockets just faced big issues on offense. The young core just couldn't get it done. There was still plenty of improvement across the board from the Rockets' players. Amen Thompson developed into a star for the Rockets, and he holds a massive key to the team's success. The former fourth overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft is arguably the most athletic player in the association and can be electric on both ends of the floor.…