When refs decide to let players play, players decide to foul more. Players keep fouling until the refs call about as many fouls as they were calling before the refs decided to let players play.
21. Houston Rockets 2024-25 record: 2-2 Previous ranking: 19 Next games: @ DAL (Oct. 31), vs. GS (Nov. 2), vs. NYK (Nov. 4) Forward Tari Eason isn't a newcomer, but he played in 22 games last season before sitting out the rest of 2023-24 with a benign growth on his left shinbone. That abbreviated sophomore season came after Eason played 82 games as a rookie. Eason contributed a season-high 13 points last Friday against Memphis, and he has snagged 10 steals in his first four games. Eason plays with the defensive instincts, intensity and versatility that coach Ime Udoka wants. Udoka admits Eason takes chances that sometimes get him burned, but Udoka is willing to live with that because of his skill set. -- Wright https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id...best-newcomers-where-all-30-teams-stack-early
