Rockets set sights high with return of VanVleet

Rockets set sights high with return of VanVleet KRISTIE RIEKEN HOUSTON THE ASSOCIATED PRESS PUBLISHED 1 HOUR AGO Open this photo in gallery: Fred VanVleet of the Houston Rockets reacts to a call against the Toronto Raptors during a 2024 game at the Toyota Center in Houston. CARMEN MANDATO/GETTY IMAGES COMMENTS SHARE SAVE FOR LATER Listen to this article Learn more about audio Log in or create a free account to listen to this article. Coach Ime Udoka is looking for much more from the Houston Rockets after they won 52 regular-season games before losing in the first round of the playoffs in each of the last two years. “We’re not here to just make the first round, we want to make some real noise,” Udoka said Tuesday as he began his fourth year in Houston. “Everybody’s hungrier for that and to take the next step and not plateau.” The Rockets kicked off the NBA season Tuesday as the first team to hold media day. They’ll open preseason with two games against the Dallas Mavericks on Oct. 9 and 11 in Macao, China. Houston’s media day had a much more optimistic tone this year with the return of point guard Fred VanVleet, who missed all last season after tearing an ACL just before last year’s event. “I’m definitely more excited than I was going into last season,” general manager Rafael Stone said. “The way Fred’s injury hit right on the eve of the season, that was hard on everybody and so maybe I was a little bit more nervous. And this year I feel like I know what to expect more from this group, which lends itself to some excitement for me to see what’s going on.” Udoka said VanVleet has been fully cleared for training camp and the point guard can’t wait to get back on the court with his team. “Where I am right now, with the season about 30 days out, I feel really good,” he said. “It’s going to be a process still, so you guys won’t see the finished product, but I’m in a really good spot.” Along with the return of VanVleet, the Rockets welcome back big man Steven Adams, who was limited to only 32 games last season because of an ankle injury that required surgery. Their biggest off-season addition was 2021-22 defensive player of the year Marcus Smart, who the Rockets hope will make fellow defensive star Amen Thompson take another step in his fourth season. Kevin Durant was healthy throughout the regular season, starting 78 games in his first year in Houston after a blockbuster trade from Phoenix. But he was limited to only one game in the playoffs…