As the Houston Rockets concluded practice Sunday afternoon, players were still going through on-court drills as if it was game time. On one end of the court, guard Josh Christopher hoisted up shots with Armoni Brooks, trying to learn how to be more accurate from 3-point range. On the other end were rookies Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green, who ran a plethora of shooting and passing drills with assistant coach John Lucas.
For Green, those drills are a little different as he tries to correct his mechanics to help him break out of a 3-for-24 shooting slump that he has been in over the last two games, including a 0-for-11 performance at Golden State on Friday. It was the first time this season that the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft did not make a shot from the field.
Green, 19, averages 14.5 points per game, which ranks fifth among all 2021-22 NBA rookies. However, the recent trend line is more concerning. His 7-point performance versus Utah on Wednesday was the first time he had not scored in double-digits in 13 games, and he followed that up by scoring only 3 points versus the Warriors on Friday.
Rockets head coach Stephen Silas sat Green the entire fourth quarter of the Jazz game after he struggled through the first three quarters. Silas told the media that it was a learning experience for his very talented rookie, adding that he has been watching the film with Green to show him other ways that he has been effective in helping the team.
The second-year head coach was quick to point out that Green is not having bad performances, overall. Rather, he is just missing shots.
He is a hard worker. Usually, when you are a great worker, it pays off.
I wouldn’t say he is having bad games; he is just missing shots, more than anything else. I have been showing him and telling him (about) the offensive rebound he got off the corner 3-pointer he missed (at Golden State) or the offensive rebound he got from the other side. The defensive play he made on Steph Curry in the mid-range area on the left side, last game.
He is not making a bunch of shots right now, but he is improving in other parts of the game, and that can’t get lost in the fact that he is missing shots.
Green will have a chance to break out of his slump on Tuesday when the Rockets host in-state rival San Antonio at Toyota Center.
“I wouldn’t say he is having bad games; he is just missing shots more than anything else,” said Rockets HC Stephen Silas about the shooting slump rookie Jalen Green is in over the last two games. #Rockets #LightTheFuse #Sarge pic.twitter.com/u0eJfneq3V
— BIG SARGE MEDIA LLC (@BigSargeSportz) January 24, 2022
