The Houston Rockets are simply days away from the beginning of coaching camp. Expectations are at a four-year excessive for the Rockets, as many count on them to at the least make the playoffs this upcoming season.
The primary motive for the excessive expectations is the Rockets’ 19-game enchancment in 2023-24. One space that hasn’t been talked about typically helped the Rockets to 41 wins final season. Merely put, the Rockets protection was not good in 2022-23.
Recreation after sport, groups took benefit of the Rockets’ poor transition protection for simple buckets. Typically it was poor communication and different instances it was an absence of effort. Having one of many worst capturing groups within the league hasn’t helped both, as lengthy rebounds are inclined to result in simpler fast counters.
Like many different areas of the Rockets’ turnaround, the whole lot modified final season. The Rockets went from final place in opponents’ quick break factors to tied for first place in 2023-24. The earlier season, the Rockets gave up 17.5 quick break factors per sport, virtually a degree greater than the Twenty ninth-ranked Utah Jazz.
Should you return to the beginning of the Rockets’ rebuild, they ranked final each season in opponents’ quick break factors, so the turnaround in 2023-24 is outstanding.
Final season, the Rockets solely gave up 11.7 quick break factors per sport. All through the season, Ime Udoka stated protection and recovering from misses can be a precedence. Simply as missed pictures damage the Rockets’ fast-paced protection final season, improved capturing made the distinction final season.
The Rockets picked up loads of good habits final season that led to enhancements throughout the board. These good habits may assist the Rockets take the subsequent step towards the playoffs this upcoming season.
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