Are we already nearly halfway through the NBA season? What We Learned Houston Rockets Edition: Game 34.
Time sure flies when you have an enjoyable team to watch.
This game was full of defense and clutch moments. I hate the fact Giannis nearly dropped a 50 ball on our heads, but it does feel a lot better knowing the squad pulled off the win.
Always been a second half team, huh.
While there was no true dominant scorer this game for Houston, we did see Jabari Smith Jr. shoot very solid from three-point land as has been the trend for these last ten games or so.
The #Rockets are shooting 39.0% 3P in the last 10 games and have moved up from #19 to #14 on the season in three-point efficiency. In the last 10:
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) January 7, 2024
Dillon Brooks – 8-16 (50.0%)
Jabari Smith Jr – 20-42 (47.6%)
Cam Whitmore – 10-21 (47.6%)
Fred VanVleet – 30-70 (42.9%)
Aaron… pic.twitter.com/6H6ETO8IlR
This is not only a great development, but truly shows the strides Bari has made throughout his young career. A solid double-double effort nearly every singly night with great efficiency is more than enough to keep the needle pushing.
Everyone is (rightfully) focused on Alperen Sengun and his all-star campaign this year, but the real show is the youth working through each other and becoming better and better each night. (Sengun included!)
While Jalen Green has not been consistently great this season, my brain can only begin to comprehend how much better he has gotten on the defensive end.
Is he beating the AAU player allegations?
Looks like it to me.
Jalen Green had a great defensive night against the Bucks, particularly in help
— Yashwant (Yash) Sathish Kumar (@Mathketball1) January 7, 2024
JG was on-point with his rotations and effective + under control on closeouts. MIL only scored 0.75 PPP 🟢 on spot-ups vs Jalen, an area where he normally bleeds 1.3 PPP 🔴 (7th %tile)
📽️: pic.twitter.com/ph6ryNx0nx
The real difference maker is absolutely the defense. Holding teams to under 115 consistently is what we brought Ime Udoka here for. I cannot believe it is working this well, this early. The sets we are seeing is something only Rick Adelman could dream of. Hope retirement is treating you well, coach.
The Rockets did so many little things just to throw the Bucks off their game.
— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) January 7, 2024
Dame wants to put Sengun in the pick and roll? Nope, Sengun is now fronting Lopez, blocking his path so he can't set the screen. Now there are 10 seconds on the clock, good luck creating Malik Beasley pic.twitter.com/EPlJ9sp6A6
Overall, great win against a legit team. I am so glad we got to see a Damian Lillard stinker during this game too. It felt all too right. I still hate you for what you did to us in the 2014 playoffs.
YOU GOT SWEPT THE NEXT ROUND, BITCH. The Rockets would have never let the Spurs do that to us.
Heres to more wins and a fun developing squad in whats coming up to be the second half of the season.
Your Rockets will be taking on the swagless Miami Heat and Mexican-American hero Jaime Jaquez Jr. tonight on the road.
If we can go even 2-1 in this absolute gauntlet of a schedule that seems to never let up, I’ll be more than happy.
Let’s settle it.
Enjoy the hoops and have fun. See y’all soon. What We Learned Houston Rockets Edition: Game 34.
