These games weren’t supposed to matter.
A little over a month ago, the Houston Rockets limped to the All-Star break, hampered by injuries Memphis Grizzlies. It was a defeat that made coach Ime Udoka question his group’s focus, mentality and even starting lineup.
The atmospheres that were present at the start of the regular season had dissipated. Departure center Alperen SengünThe emergence and stellar play weren’t enough to dampen a largely inconsistent Rockets offense. Third year guard Green Jalen was in one of the worst slumps of his young career, and fans’ patience was growing thin by the day. Add to this Fred VanVleetDillon Brooks’ decline in aggressiveness, shooting decline and second-year forward Jabari Smith Jr. searching for a spot in Houston’s pecking order, and it was surprising that the Rockets didn’t play more than six games under .500.
Even coming out of the truce, a busy schedule saw them face the Phoenix Suns three times and Oklahoma City Thunder twice – that could easily have been the final nail, especially since the Rockets lost four more times during that span. Ranked 12th in the Western Conference with a 25-34 record at the end of February, a change of direction could easily have been considered. For some, it probably should have been.
The start of March didn’t bring much respite either, losing both Sengün and the rookie. Cam Whitmore to ankle and knee injuries, respectively – in addition to the versatile striker’s shutdown Tari Reason. It wouldn’t have been unusual for the Rockets to clear out what was left of that campaign and focus on the future, especially with the growth shown under Udoka and a revamped defensive system.
Udoka’s influence on this team, besides the defensive improvement, has been in their mentality. Sure, they’ve been involved in several scuffles over the course of the season – this happening with physical Brooks within earshot of the action on the field, keeping his promise that this team wouldn’t be bullied. But as we have seen since the beginning of the month, their attention to detail, thanks to Udoka, has paid off in real time. The Rockets got better because they research because they believed it was possible.
During the mini-pause in the league schedule, Udoka had one mandate to his group: increase its pace, improve its shooting and continue to play aggressive, physical defense. Play faster? Houston is fourth in March pace. Shoot better? The Rockets are shooting 42.5 percent from 3 on 17 “wide open” perimeter shots per game, fifth best. A team that spent most of the season ranked in the bottom 10 in offensive efficiency now finds itself third in the league in March. They allowed a measly 108.6 points per 100 possessions. The Rockets have won six games on the bounce, eight of their last nine with a net rating of plus-12.7 and find themselves two games under .500 (33-35) and within reach of Tournament Play-In.
Şengün’s absence did not derail their dynamic. If anything, it forced a style shift toward a small stopgap ball that suits the remaining personnel. There’s a need for speed now, with a rookie Amen Thompson join the starting lineup and push Smith to center. There have been some natural compromises with this new group: a slight drop in rebounding and defensive efficiency, allowing 121.8 points per 100 possessions. But the results were dominant at the other end of the floor.
None of this is possible without Green taking the reins as Houston’s go-to player when the team needed him most. Green’s turnaround began in Phoenix late last month. As basic as it sounds, once Green’s shot started falling at a consistent rate, everything else about his game became easier: his powerful drives, his acrobatic finishes, and his emphatic dunks.
Amid his struggles, Green was still looking to improve his defensive efforts, playmaking and other facets that keep players on the floor, even when their shot isn’t falling. Green is now shooting an impressive 40 percent from 3 on nearly nine attempts per game and has started knocking down the ones he has to make — when defenders leave him wide open — at a rate of 46.7 percent. Green is coming off a week in which he won Western Conference Player of the Week, and by tying his career high Tuesday in the nation’s capital, he gives himself a good head start on repeating that feat. Green responded to light usage by continuing to take care of the basketball and remaining aggressive, a domino effect that brings Houston’s floor up every night. His ever-improving gaming processor also allows him and Şengün to be able to thrive together, once the latter is healthy again.
It also helps that Thompson doesn’t look like a rookie. I’ve never been the biggest fan of some advanced metrics like per-36 due to the importance of playing time in a gray area, but considering the way Thompson’s production has increased since he joins the starting lineup, that makes sense. He’s been strong, whether serving as a pseudo center, allowing Smith to roam the perimeter and elbows while he occupies the dunker spot, throwing on the glass, or defending multiple positions. Thompson’s versatility allows the Rockets to explore while remaining competitive. His value and IQ cannot be underestimated, even as a teenager.
Amen Thompson on entry:
14.4 PPG
10.5JdR
3.3 APG
2.0 STL + BLACK
65.6% FG pic.twitter.com/NMOwQIBW4T-StatMamba (@StatMamba) March 20, 2024
There are, of course, other reasons underlying Houston’s sudden turnaround: Smith’s fluidity and efficiency. Jock LandaleRim protection would like to say a word — but at its core, the Rockets’ late surge is a reminder that rebuilds take different forms, have different goals and yield different results. A year ago, the final weeks of the regular season were overtaken by the coin toss and landing luck. Victor Wembanyama. The Rockets may have missed out on the No. 1 pick, but these days their eyes are on the playoffs.
This change in mentality, from desperation to determination, is difficult to achieve. But Houston is once again in a position where every game matters, for the right reasons. Every match is considered a must-see, a claim that would have seemed ridiculous less than 12 months ago.
Even if the Rockets were to miss the playoffs, a reality that is in play given the the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors’ shared level of urgency, Houston’s future is bright. In Şengün and Green, two exciting talents continue to add experience. There is a collection of young people who tout their athleticism, versatility and production, veterans who know how to win, a head coach who demands excellence and an offseason that brings the unknown but promises aggression and creativity.
We don’t know what the final weeks of the season have in store for us. What we do know is that the Rockets beat some of their ghosts with a sense of urgency and will come out of the tunnel better because of it in the long run.
(Photo by Amen Thompson and Jalen Green: Troy Taormina / USA Today)
