What We Learned: Houston Rockets Edition Games 21 And 22

Start slow and ugly, finish confident and strong.

That’s been the story of the last two home and home games against Memphis. Games we should win, but see, Ime Udoka and the Rockets love suspense. What We Learned: Houston Rockets Edition Games 21 And 22.

They are officially the “win ugly” team. I can’t remember a Rockets team where these wins feel so rewarding. When you go into things with little to no expectation and they immediately get blown away, it feels so good to just bask in what has been created in front of your eyes.

Game 1, Wednesday. Tari and Bari show.

This, top to bottom was a perfect showcase of some guys we haven’t fully had the pleasure of talking about this season. Jabari Smith Jr. has enjoyed a true turnaround in regards to efficiency, and while his scoring isn’t life-altering, we are seeing much better game management on his end due to the new staff Ime Udoka has brought in.

Tari Eason on the other hand has brought size and grit to a much needed 3 position when Dillon Brooks is either not on the floor, or playing the 2. Landing his career high in points with 25 and shooting over 60% from the floor, we are seeing these young guys really get to their spots and feel comfortable.

Jalen Green, on the other hand… I want to gouge my eyes out when I see him play. This is getting old. When in doubt, he just dribble-drives and gets fouled in the best-case scenario. I am beginning to get truly worried about him. It’s almost 25 games in to the season and we are seeing no improvement. In fact, we are seeing a major regression. He looks lost offensively, but his saving grace is the last ten games or so where he actually has seemed locked in defensively.

That can only help so much as trade talks on social media keep heating up. The only thing I would even touch with a ten foot pole in regards to a trade at this very moment would be Jalen Green and Jock Landale along with some first round picks for a disgruntled Donovan Mitchell. Regardless, giving up on Jalen this early would set a bad precedent and show that we aren’t backing up our end of the deal when it comes to player development.

He will (might?) be fine. I don’t know anymore. We keep winning, so maybe we can put this on the back-burner for now.

It’s been a strange week. Alperen Sengun hasn’t looked great, but we are seeing guys come up big in close out games with Dillon Brooks and Tari Eason.

That clutch three by Dillon Brooks was a peak ” NO NO NO NO YES YES YES!!!” kind of moment for all of us. It was objectively bad shot, but I’m not gonna “Paul George” this situation by harping on the “what if” scenario. He made it and thats what matters. That FVV drive last night instead of milking clock almost sent me in to a coma though.

The Rockets have won three games in a row that they should have won! This is great. Wasn’t pretty, but damn, it feels good.

The Rockets will continue their hopes at another deep win streak against known loser and instigator in Giannis Antetokounmpo. That Harden MVP loss still hurts. Fuck you and your lack of a bag.

Back to playing good teams again. This week was fun while it lasted.

See y’all then. What We Learned: Houston Rockets Edition Games 21 And 22.