HOUSTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 03: Alperen Sengun #28 of the Houston Rockets reacts to his basket during … [+]
The Week in Review and the Week Ahead
After starting their season 0-3, the Houston Rockets are currently riding a two game winning streak following home wins over the Charlotte Hornets, 128-119 and the Sacramento Kings, 107-89. They’ll square off with the Kings again on Monday at Toyota Center in a rematch. On Wednesday, they’ll take on the Los Angeles Lakers and old friend, Christian Wood. And then on Friday, they’ll face the New Orleans Pelicans. The Rockets have been the beneficiary of some injuries to opponents as All-Star guard De’Aaron Fox missed Saturday’s game with an ankle injury and is expected to miss Monday’s game as well. It was announced on Sunday that Pelicans guard C.J. McCollum will be out indefinitely after being diagnosed with a collapsed lung.
In games played over the past week, the Rockets are fifth in the league in net rating at +5.1, 12th in offensive rating at 113.0, and ninth in defensive rating at 107.9.
Clear signs of life
Thus far, the Rockets’ starting lineup of Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., and Alperen Sengun has a net rating of +15.4 in 95 minutes played together. They have an offensive rating of 118.5 and a defensive rating of 103.1. That’s the second most amount of time played together for any five-man unit in the league, and it’s the highest net rating amongst all five man units having played together for over 75 minutes.
Houston’s heaviest minutes-played three-man unit is the one featuring VanVleet, Brooks, and Sengun. That trio has shared the court for 127 minutes and posted a net rating of +17.1, with an offensive rating of 118.6 and a defensive rating of 101.5. For purposes of comparison, the Denver Nuggets trio of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Aaron Gordon, and Nikola Jokic has played together for 193 minutes, posting a net rating of +19.7, an offensive rating of 124.7, and a defensive rating of 105.0.
That data matches the eye test as, apart from the opening night clunker at Orlando, the starting unit has looked formidable and much improved as compared to last season, largely due to the additions of VanVleet and Brooks and Sengun’s amplified role under new head coach Ime Udoka. The record thus far may not be indicative, but the Rockets look like a decent team so far, at least when their starters are on the floor.
Help on the way?
The starting lineup’s formidability raises the obvious question: at what point will general manager Rafael Stone cash in his chips to improve the team’s bench? In a year where results finally matter, with the Oklahoma City Thunder possessing control of the Rockets’ first round pick (as a result of the ill-fated Chris Paul for Russell Westbrook trade), there will be motivation for personnel upgrades.
In the early going, the Rockets have struggled when key starters have gone to the bench, with the most glaring holes appearing to be rim protection and playmaking and shot creation off the bench. Jock Landale and Reggie Bullock, both free agent acquisitions, have been largely ineffective.
The Rockets are still playing without injured reserve Tari Eason and are expected to be without top rookie, backup point guard Amen Thompson for several weeks following an ankle sprain. Eason himself indicated that his return, while not imminent, might be sooner rather than later.
Stone may look to see what his team looks like upon the return of both players, prior to making a move. While Eason isn’t a rim protector, he can provide the sort of athleticism the starting frontcourt lacks for a change of pace. The sophomore forward was a ball magnet during his rookie campaign. In the case of Thompson, it’s no secret that point guard is the most difficult position in basketball to learn. If he ever hits his stride this season, it will solve a lot of problems for the Rockets in the short-term. And in the long-term, as many on-ball reps as he can garner in leading the second unit will only help speed up his development.
