The Rockets aren’t nearly as high powered on offense without injured center Alperen Sengun, and they also lack the physical post presence. But, with second-year forward Jabari Smith Jr. sliding to center and rookie Amen Thompson taking Smith’s vacated role at forward, Houston is suddenly more athletic in the frontcourt.
That dynamic allows head coach Ime Udoka to attempt even more switching on defense, and the presence of a big man with a reliable 3-point shot also provides floor-spacing benefits on offense.
“Jabari being a different pick-and-pop threat is really beneficial, especially against teams that play double bigs, like they do,” Udoka said after Saturday’s dominant win over Cleveland.
The Rockets were +22 in Smith’s 32 minutes, best of any player. He had 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks while making 8-of-13 shots (61.5%) and 3-of-5 from 3-point range (60.0%). Thompson added 18 points and 8 rebounds while making 8-of-11 shots (72.7%), most near the rim after offensive rebounds or creation by teammates.
“You try to find different ways to be effective,” said veteran point guard Fred VanVleet, speaking to the post-Sengun offense. “If they put a five and drop on Jabari, you’re going to pick-and-pop. He’s one of our better shooters. You got Amen rolling to the rim. He’s one of our better finishers. He can pass out of that short roll there.”
#Rockets beat Cleveland 117-103
Fred VanVleet 🚀13 PTS🚀16 AST🚀
He spoke after the @HoustonRockets WIN pic.twitter.com/1w7dH01aAA
— Space City Home Network (@SpaceCityHN) March 17, 2024
J.B. Bickerstaff, head coach of the third-seeded Cavaliers (42-25) of the Eastern Conference, seems to have noticed.
Here’s what Bickerstaff said of the new-look Rockets, via Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle:
As far as schemes and the team stuff… they’re different now. Playing smaller, playing switchable lineups, more five-out spacing, it does make them a little bit of a different team.
Houston (32-35) has now won five straight games and is 7-1 in March. The Rockets will look to build on that momentum when they visit Washington (11-55) on Tuesday, with tipoff at 6:00 p.m. Central.
