After a prolonged stretch of mediocrity, the Rockets (26-15) completed their recent homestand at 4-1, punctuated by a statement win over a key Western Conference rival.

By defeating San Antonio (30-14), Houston moved up to the No. 4 spot in the West standings, and the Rockets only trail the second-seeded Spurs by a game in the loss column.

So, have the Rockets finally turned a corner, and are they a legitimate contender? In Thursday’s show, our Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves debate the pros and cons.

Topics include a recent regression by Alperen Sengun on defense; encouraging signs of growth from Reed Sheppard and Jabari Smith Jr.; the impact of losing Steven Adams (severe ankle sprain) for an extended period; and whether the team’s striking home-versus-road splits (15-3 in Houston, 11-12 away) could make capturing home-court advantage for the playoffs even more important.

Support our partners and sponsors! Also, please subscribe and leave a positive review at your podcast home of choice.