HOUSTON, TEXAS – APRIL 04: Jalen Green #4 of the Houston Rockets reacts after sinking a three point … [+]
The Week in Review and the Week Ahead
This is not how Rafael Stone wanted the beginning of the second phase of his rebuild to transpire. In games played through Sunday night, the Houston Rockets went 0-3, getting crushed on opening night to the Orlando Magic, 116-86, falling in overtime to the San Antonio Spurs, 126-122, and losing their home opener to the Golden State Warriors, 106-95.
Things don’t get any easier with a brutal November stretch that shows no mercy. The Charlotte Hornets visit Toyota Center on Wednesday, and the upstart Sacramento Kings, last season’s surprise team in the NBA, visit on Saturday. Will Houston pick up its first win?
Finding Their Footing
In a year where the games actually matter, the Rockets are trying to find their identity under new head coach Ime Udoka. They have new personnel, and not only are they attempting to incorporate a new philosophy but also unlearn bad habits ingrained over the past three seasons. The task is tall but there is no longer time for sympathy.
Through the first two games, at Orlando and at San Antonio, the Rockets feasted on a steady diet of Alperen Sengun touches, with the big man delivering, starting 6/6 from the floor against the Magic (en route to 14 points), and scoring 25 points, grabbing 14 rebounds, and dishing out 7 assists against the Spurs. The big man was featured primarily out of the roll with Fred VanVleet, and exclusively in the post late in crunch time against San Antonio. While he did score 19 points (7/15 from the floor) against the Warriors, the Rockets did not look to feed him as much, playing largely through Jalen Green. Sengun’s level of involvement will be an ongoing theme for a young Rockets team without an established offensive identity and lacking in playmaking.
The most underrated plotline for Houston in the week’s first season is the absence of sophomore Tari Eason. The void is a big one for a team lacking in frontcourt size and athleticism. Eason’s perimeter quickness and explosiveness would do wonders next to Sengun, as evidenced by the data on that on-court pairing last season. To that end, would Udoka consider inserting Eason into the starting lineup in place of former third overall pick Jabari Smith, Jr. to flank Sengun? On Sunday night, Smith combined with reserves Jae’Sean Tate and Amen Thompson, along with Dillon Brooks, to turn in an impressive run to bring Houston back into the game.
The good news for now is that the Rockets’ two big-money free agent acquisitions from this summer, VanVleet and Brooks, have been good to exceptional. VanVleet put on a clinic against the Spurs, scoring 24 points on 10/20 from the floor, and dishing out 12 assists. Brooks has taken the toughest defensive assignment each night and provided a level of perimeter toughness not seen in Houston since P.J. Tucker and Trevor Ariza left for greener pastures.
While the standings and win column aren’t reflective, there has been improvement. Apart from the opener, the effort has been ample. Now Houston waits for its first win.