It was the best of games, it was the relative, perhaps a 1st cousin, of the worst of games. It was a game of wisdom, it was a game of foolishness. It was part of a season of light (this season?), it was part of a season of darkness (last season). It was the spring of hope, and it was a win that was harder than it needed to be and brought to mind memories of a certain despair.
In short, it was a Rockets game. But not as we have known them! It was definitely not the sort they won often last season.
I will take the win on a SEGBABA after a tough game in Austin (very much Spurs Country) where the team didn’t make their Atlanta hotel until about 5am. They didn’t really salt away both games of road back to back games much at all last season.
You might say, well, Steven Adams and Fred VanVleet are back, plus the Rockets have Ime’s Spirit Animal; Marcus Smart. Ah, my friend, they did not have those players. All were out. If you know much about Marcus Smart, you know that nagging injuries are a hallmark of his career. Expect more of the same. As for Fred, he might play in B2Bs later in the season, or maybe not. He was cagey about it in a post game interview last night. Steven Adams simply won’t.
So that left the Rockets starting Reed “Tough 1970s Cop Who Lives By His Own Code of Rough Justice, But Who Is Definitely Not A PG” Sheppard. This may seem a risky move to some, given the team’s 18-4 record in Reed’s starts, but that was a risk the Rockets were forced to take.
It left Amen Thompson, who had a season highlight block last night in San Antonio. The Rockets had Alperen Sengun, who broke down the Spurs big men late, to win it, including Weepy. It left us with Kevin Durant who just seems to be able to play 36ish minutes whenever, wherever, and even if he’s been shitposting on his burner all night (Who’s to say? Not me.). Finally there was Jabari “I’m Playing Like NBA 1st Team All Defense” Smith.
Would it be enough to match Atlanta, off to an undefeated start, also on a B2B, but at home, and having just summarily dispatched nearby Charlotte?
Reader, it would.
So I’m thrilled with the start the team has had to the season. They’ve built leads, held leads, beaten a key rival on the road, and won a tough B2B against what I think is a good to very good Hawks team, and one that due to players like Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels especially, but also CJ McCollum and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, mirror the Rockets in certain ways, and pose problems. They shoot the three well (even if they didn’t tonight, despite a period of just not missing), have a good bench, and played the Rockets even in the rebounding battle. In short, not an easy opponent for the Rockets, and the Rockets beat them short handed, on the road in a B2B after a tough game in Austin.
This is the most talented Rockets team in nearly a decade. I’m happy for this win, but the specter of problems that plagued the team last season, if not loomed, definitely floated around the gym in this game, especially late. Early days, but keep an eye on it.
The game started with both teams looking flat, and to an extent, uninterested. The Rockets went down 7-0 early, but after a time out took a lead they would not relinquish, despite some foolish, and all too familiar faffing around and losing much of their at one time 20pt lead late. It felt like Atlanta made a zillion threes, but that’s because they took 49 of them. Due to good defense from the Rockets (and possibly tired legs) they only made 13 threes to the Rockets 14, on 14 fewer attempts.
Atlanta rallied late, and made it tighter than it should have been. It was a familiar sinking sensation that diehards will remember, but the Rockets did not, in fact, sink into the loss column. That is something to celebrate.
Tonight saw some great play from the following Rockets: Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith, Kevin Durant and Reed Sheppard.
Amen and Reed and Alpie seemed to alternate in the primary initiator spot, and you could see growth on the part of each.
Amen finished with a stat line 17pts on 4-12 shooting, but 9-9 free throws, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 turnovers, and a steal. He played 39 minutes, and at times even the super human Amen seemed to struggle to find energy. One sign of this was missing close in shots he normally makes.
One thing I saw, as the Rockets have begun running recognizable offensive sets, is that Amen has an idea where to look for the pass, or the drive. If a player knows a play, he knows who will likely be open given what the action is meant to do, how the defense might react. This is how a structured offense with varied sets greatly benefits an inexperienced point guard. Fred VanVleet has played 17,000 minutes, almost all as a PG. Amen has played 6600, with probably 2400 as a PG. Fred doesn’t need the structure Amen does.
Alperen Sengun seems stronger, lighter and fitter this season. He threw down two monster games, and made several great moves down the lane, one that just rolled out, or it would have been a big time highlight. You could see that his legs were tired but he fought through, and dominated the Hawks inside. Alpie finished with 17pts on 6-12 shooting, 1-2 from 3pt range (hello 67% 3pt% in a teensy sample), had 10 rebounds, 7 assists to 3 turnovers, and a steal. It was a balanced effort, and his passing was generally great.
Kevin Durant has been fairly deferential this season, but vital. The Rockets really could, and I think should, have some set actions for Kevin Durant late in games. Yes, he can get his own shot, but it’s often a very difficult one, and the fact that he often makes them still doesn’t make it an optimal approach. A few pet KD plays that gets the greatest all around shooter who ever lived some easier looks seems like a good plan. Durant went 22pts on 8-15FG, 3-7 3pt, 3-3FT, 4rbs, 2ast, 2to, 1blk in 37 minutes. Yes, KD played 37 minutes in a B2B, but who is going to tell him not to? You? Me? Ime? Maybe his mom.
Jabari Smith Jr continues to threaten a break out season in my view. The Rockets don’t really have anyone with super high usage on offense, so it can be hard to see, but on defense he’s simply outstanding. He’s the player people imagined on defense when he was drafted. He can guard outside, and inside, he can stay with wings, and even some guard, and he’s become superb at difficult shot blocks. Not easy swats gained by targeting smaller guys, and striking. No, he’s been getting blocks close to the basket where it’s unclear how he did it at all. And he’s been doing it without much fouling.
Maybe his reputation will be such that refs won’t call anticipatory fouls on him, but actually look at the play more. Jabari had 14 points on 5-12 shooting, with tiredness showing in some of his shots, as well, particularly from 3pt range where he was 2-6. He added 4rbs, 2ast, 2to (late) and had one block. This doesn’t really do his game against big, mobile, Atlanta players justice though. He’s been quietly outstanding so far, in my view. It felt like Atlanta made a zillion threes, but that’s because they took 49 of them. Due to good defense from the Rockets (and possibly tired legs) they only made
Reed Sheppard just wins when he starts. Tonight he had 19pts on 7-13FG, 5-113pt, 6rbs, 7ast, 3to, 1stl and was tied with Durant for team high +/- at 19. I truly cannot comprehend anyone who can see this game and not think Reed is, a point guard and capable of successful starters minutes. Some of his dimes were immaculate tonight, and he caused havoc with his hands on defense. I’m honestly surprised he only had one official steal recorded.
The Rockets got into trouble late when Ime Udoka pulled Reed from the game late in favor of Bogdan Bogdanovich. I hope I’ll be believed when I saw that the bad defender some of you think Reed Sheppard is, Bogdan actually is. This period provided much of Atlanta’s comeback impetus, and the absence of Sheppard was felt pretty keenly. The Rockets still have problems with late game execution, teamwide, and Reed was a part of that, but he was still much better than Bogdanovich despite being younger, and somewhat shorter.
Reed played 30 minutes, and Bogdanovich played 20. I think things would have looked more solid late if Reed had played 36 minutes, and BogBog 14, but perhaps this was due to Sheppard having a bone bruise on his knee.
Also, I’ll say again that I think Reed is miscast as a bench flamethrower. He’s not Jamal Crawford. I think the more he plays, the better he plays. His career stats bear this out (not including tonight). Usage is roughly the same, but percentages are all better.
Tari Eason was his usual Chaos Goblin self. He 19pts off the bench on 8-15 shooting, had some Dribblin’ Adventures, but also attacked the rim with force, and finished, with an NFL style drive through Lu Dort being a favorite moment of mine this game. He still makes odd decisions, and sometimes gets tunnel vision with the ball. Sadly, he still hasn’t made at 3pt shot this season, as he seemed to make one, but then it was changed to 2pts.
Clint Capela had decent minutes off the bench, and probably could have played more in my estimation, except that Atlanta plays pretty small. He looks much quicker and more fluid this season, having clearly lost a considerable amount of weight.
BogBog is a good catch and shoot guy, and not especially great at the rest. He does surprise defenders that expect him to shoot enough to dribble past them, but he was 4-8 overall and 3-5 from 3pt range. He’s still clearly getting used to playing with the team. I would have thought he was no one’s idea of a crunch time defender, but I would have thought wrong.
Anyhow, this was a good win in what might have been a schedule loss. There are some things to keep an eye on, but there are also positive changes afoot, and it’s clear that the roster is deep and talented.
