If the Pelicans and Zion Williamson were particularly worried by losing by 33 points against Houston, we must also highlight the defensive performance of the Rockets. The Texans delivered a very solid game in this area, which is the priority for the coming season.
What was striking was the energy and intensity displayed by Ime Udoka’s players. The Pelicans, even on the baskets they scored or even after several passes, very often had a defender on their back.
“It’s contagious and everyone gives it their all. No one wants to be the weak link. If we keep this tenacity, we can become a very good defensive team,” explains Fred VanVleet at the Houston Chronicle. “That’s our mindset going into this season: being a team that poses problems in defense”continues Jae’Sean Tate. “We have done things that we can build on. »
“We want it to be hard to play against us”
The figures show it very well: 87 points conceded only by the Rockets, 25 balls lost for New Orleans, 18 interceptions for Houston, a rebound battle won (46 to 38) and above all only one small point scored by Willie Green’s men on the counterattack!
“We played with several combinations, and it was by playing small-ball that we really made the difference. But even with the big guys, the guys were very energetic,” analyzes Ime Udoka. “We were physical on the rebound, we stole a lot of balls, which we were able to convert into points, 28 precisely, on the counterattack. As for the transition, we insisted on it throughout the training camp. If we can force teams to play half court, avoiding easy baskets in transition, we get this style of result, i.e. conceding 87 points. »
The Pelicans were certainly diminished (Trey Murphy III, Jose Alvadado and Larry Nance Jr. were absent) and it’s only preseason, but after the victory against Indiana, with only 103 points conceded, it’s a second good stone for the Rockets building under construction.
The players are involved, the rotations are carried out, the helpers are never far away: this team clearly wants to make efforts in defense more than in previous seasons.
” It’s encouraging. We have put patterns in place and seeing stops on these actions is positive. I like our attention to detail, guys covering each other’s backs and playing hard,” Udoka rejoices. “Defense is what wins matches” recalls Jabari Smith Jr. “We are trying to build a culture and an identity, we want it to be hard to play against us. »
