As a data-driven analyst raised in Chicago’s basketball underbelly, I see Houston’s roster not as a team— but as a fragile equation. Durant’s minutes are ticking like a metronome; every shot carries the weight of unspoken risk. With Smith and Jalen holding the defense, yet the backcourt depth falters, and three-point consistency remains an echo after the buzzer. This isn’t just about wins—it’s about whether time itself can be outrun.