Sengun has shown an ability to play high level basketball every night. He gives you a security blanket in that you know what you should get for each game. 20/10 was always a fair baseline for him, but he's showing that he can step outside of his own comfort zone as an available shooter which opens up the court for all the guys around him to showcase their own unique skills and highlight Senguns passing ability. Its nice to see the team reward him with made shots. Defensively I think everyone is benefitting from a hair on fire switch everything approach. If Sengun is going to give us 2 blocks per game as a rim defender and last line of defense I would be tickled pink. Nothing to complain about. All the parts on the team fit seamlessly. Chemistry is always the most important factor on championship teams and this team seems to have bought in and enjoys each other on the court and are finally starting to understand how to maximize one another. Raffy saw all this before any of us. I never expected all the independent flaws with the team to be covered up so perfectly by the strengths within the same players. Its fun watching this team play ball. Selfless and passionate. Need to get into a playoff series and see how that gets tested.
Appreciate your response, agree with all of it. I think Raffy got a bit lucky (Oladipo rejecting the offer, KPJ beating up his girlfriend, etc.), but I can't complain at all about where we are.
Even with the loss to the Bucks and assuming we don't win even one of the next 5 games, we are guaranteed to be at least .500 at the quarter turn. Looking like a good season is shaping up.
Man, Rockets are rollin’ for the first time in several years. Have to admit I’ve hardly watched them the last few years, mostly just monitoring their box scores, but that may have to change
There seems to be, at the moment, a bit of a drop-off from the top 4 Western Conference teams and the next tier. Crazy to think we’re in that top tier at the moment.
After a tough and somewhat heartbreaking loss against the struggling Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night, the Houston Rockets bounced back against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, bringing their record to 11-5, which is good enough currently for fourth in the Western Conference and just one game out of first place. Many of us may not have predicted that they’d be playing this well this early, so it begs the question, are the Rockets for real? Last season, the Rockets were the seventh-ranked defense in the league, and at the beginning of this season. Rockets fans were counting on the fact that if this team were to become a true playoff contender, it would need to be a top five defense, given the known offensive deficiencies. As it stands today, the Rockets are the number-two-ranked defense in all the league at 105.5 points per 100 possessions, and an opponent effective field-goal percentage of 50 percent. In their first 16 games, they have played six teams in the top 11 of NBA offensive rating. They have played six teams that are bottom 10 in offensive rating, including the San Antonio Spurs who they have faced three times. In four of the six games versus the better offensive teams (DAL, MEM, NYK, and IND) the Rockets defense held the other team well below their season averages. The others being the Golden State Warriors and the OKC Thunder, one being an overtime loss in-which the Rockets overcame a 31-point deficit, and the other being a 19 -point loss where the Rockets tied or won every quarter other than a disastrous second. Even in their losses to the better teams the Rockets have shown themselves to be a team that should be respected. However, I believe the losses to the Thunder, both in the regular and preseason, and the loss to the Warriors showed that there are levels to this. However, the fact that it’s early and the Rockets seem to be getting better with each game is very encouraging. Late game execution proved to be an issue recently in the one -point loss to the Bucks. Similar issues plagued them in the first game of the season versus Charlotte, and in the overtime loss to the Warriors. I believe this is the next step in the evolution of this Rockets team, learning to win close games, learning to execute under the pressure of facing teams that have had more success in recent years, and proving to themselves that they do belong in the process. It is still early in the season, but I believe that the Rockets have done enough to show that they are for real. The are young, they are deep, the defend the ball as ferociously as any team in the league, and when they move the ball and get good looks, their offense shows its potential. The Rockets staters have begun to play very well, and they are boasting one of the most entertaining, as well as disruptive bench units with Tari Eason and Amen Thompson. Lastly, one of the things that signals to me that the Rockets are growing up is that they are dominating inferior opponents. How things have changed from what feels like forever ago but was just two short years ago. So much credit needs to go to Tilman Fertitta, Rafael Stone, and Ime Udoka. They stayed pat this offseason rather than reach on a deal for a “superstar” and it seems to be paying off. Yet somehow there continue to be Rockets “trade rumors” and scenarios buzzing about the NBA landscape. Is there smoke to the fire? Should the Rockets look to capitalize on the rising stock of this young core? I’d like to approach that very subject in my next piece.
https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/st...e-tiers-stacking-all-30-teams-top-three-stars 17. Houston Rockets: Alperen Sengun, Reed Sheppard, Amen Thompson Average core age: 21.5 Houston's was the most difficult core to determine, as the roster is full of interesting players both in the future and during the Rockets' 11-5 start. Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks have been key parts of creating the team's defensive identity. Jabari Smith Jr. is a former No. 2 pick with prototypical size at power forward and the ability to space the floor and defend. Tari Eason and Cam Whitmore provide sparks off the bench. Ultimately, the choices are Sengun -- just signed to a long-term extension last month -- and Houston's two most recent high draft picks. Thompson, a game-changing defensive prospect, joins Sheppard, whom Houston hopes can provide similar impact on offense.
Sengun is slightly low, but I'd give it some slack since he's coming off injury and shooting is still suspect this year. Should be more in the top 20~30 conversation by end of season at this rate. FVV about right. Jalen shouldn't be in the top 100 Tari probably should be in Jalen's spot at least IMO, but I can understand trepidation given his injuries last year and not enough sustained success yet. Amen is about right. The inclusion is probably more that they want a young prospect here rather than some boring vet. Cause honestly I'd put Brooks over Amen right now if we're just talking about this year's impact on winning. Regardless he's probably borderline either way.
As of today, should be Alpi, Fred, Dillon. Going forward, Alpi, Tari, Amen. Their choice is a bit weird.
