Ime Udoka had an excellent idea during the two days of training before the Kings’ reception: set up exercises where the Rockets had to impose their physical power. Thus, the players spent their time getting into each other to correct very visible shortcomings in rebounding since the start of the season.
“It felt like we were going back to university days”comments Dillon Brooks for the Houston Chronicle. “It was simple, old-fashioned rebounding drills where you had to be physical and block your player.”adds Jabari Smith Jr.
However, it was at the level of skill that the Rockets made the difference in the first half against Sacramento. The Texans were building on their momentum from the game against the Hornets, where they had been very skillful from afar. They lead by six points at the break.
It was then that the physical dimension was very useful. Because the third quarter is a disaster. The word is not too strong: 12 small points scored at 3/23 on the shoot and 1/11 at 3-pts! However, at the start of the last act, the Rockets are still ahead in the score. How did they do it?
“We didn’t put anything into this quarter, but they scored 15 points. We were able to hold on,” rejoices the coach. “We conceded 36 points in the second half, after a second quarter with 34 points on their part. I am delighted with our effort. Overall, it was our most consistent match from this point of view. »
The defense has the floor
It was the defense that held up, despite a seven-minute period without a single point… For the first time this season, the Rockets won the rebounding battle and even if the attack was lacking – it was the less than we can say – for very long sequences, they gritted their teeth and it passed.
“We have to be able to rely on our defense. That’s why having this base is great, especially in this league,” notes Fred VanVleet. “There will be times when the ball is not going to go in. We missed easy shots, layups, open shots. So, in these moments, you have to rely on defense. We did it, we resisted. »
Limiting the Kings (last season’s best offense) to just 89 points is no small feat. With a defense like this, the Rockets will be able to travel far.
“It shows our solidarity, our trust in each other, and trust in what the coach is teaching us,” summarizes Smith Jr. “Our shots weren’t going in this third quarter, it was the defense that spoke and we stayed in the game. »
| Shots | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Bp | Int | Ct | Party | Pts |
| Alperen Sengun | 4 | 32.4 | 58.9 | 42.9 | 53.3 | 3.3 | 5.3 | 8.5 | 6.0 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 3.5 | 19.3 |
| Jalen Green | 4 | 34.1 | 39.4 | 35.0 | 89.5 | 0.8 | 4.0 | 4.8 | 2.0 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 19.0 |
| Fred Vanvleet | 4 | 37.3 | 39.7 | 39.4 | 83.3 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 8.0 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 17.0 |
| Dillon Brooks | 4 | 34.4 | 59.0 | 62.5 | 87.5 | 0.3 | 3.0 | 3.3 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 4.3 | 15.8 |
| Jabari Smith, Jr. | 4 | 31.9 | 44.7 | 30.4 | 33.3 | 1.8 | 5.3 | 7.0 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 4.0 | 12.8 |
| Jeff Green | 4 | 16.9 | 55.6 | 40.0 | 77.8 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 7.3 |
| Amen Thompson | 4 | 16.7 | 40.9 | 18.2 | 62.5 | 0.3 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 2.3 | 6.3 |
| Jae’sean Tate | 4 | 17.4 | 40.0 | 33.3 | 80.0 | 0.8 | 3.3 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 2.0 | 4.5 |
| Boban Marjanovic | 1 | 7.5 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 4.0 |
| Nate Williams, Jr. | 1 | 4.8 | 66.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.0 |
| Jock Landale | 2 | 13.9 | 22.2 | 20.0 | 100.0 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 3.5 |
| Aaron Holiday | 2 | 7.8 | 40.0 | 66.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 3.0 |
| Reggie Bullock | 3 | 9.4 | 25.0 | 25.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| Jermaine Samuels | 1 | 6.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Cam Whitmore | 1 | 9.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
