This week, NBA Cup action kicks off. This will be the fourth edition of the league's annual in-season tournament, and the Houston Rockets are slotted in West Group A with the Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, and Utah Jazz.

Starting off this season with a strong 5-0 run , the Rockets have the pieces to establish themselves as juggernauts in the Western Conference and win an NBA Cup title in the process. With the likes of Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, and Jabari Smith Jr. as the main contributors, Houston currently has the second-best offensive rating in the league.

Houston already had a decisive double-digit victory over the Mavericks in their season opener, and the Jazz and Suns are quickly falling to the bottom of the standings.…