Defense stands to benefit if offense can reduce turnovers
The Rockets’ defense has shown signs of improvement, moving them into the top 10, a goal they often have cited. But one of the greatest issues with their defense has been with a part of their offense.
The Rockets rank 25th in turnovers, allowing the second-most points off turnovers per game in the league. Only the Denver Nuggets, their opponent Wednesday at Toyota Center, give up more.
As the Rockets work to improve defensively, one of the first steps might have to be shoring up that part of their offense.
“A lot of it is just getting back on defense, make them play half-court, boxing off every time and having no second-chance points against you or as little as you can,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said. “If you do those two things, it takes care of a lot of the defensive problems. Not turning the ball over on offense takes care of defensive problems.
“We give up 19 points a game on turnovers. That’s an offensive problem. That’s causing our defense to suffer a little bit. We need to try to do better. Those are areas we try to point out, try to get them focus in on.”
The Rockets have done well in limiting secondchance points. They are second in defensive rebounding percentage and fifth in second-chance points allowed.
The turnover issues could improve greatly with the return of Chris Paul, who will often run the offense with the second unit. The Rockets’ bench has been the most turnover-prone in the league.
Duo’s long-range prognosis OK
The Rockets will look to turn around a pair of 3-point trends with two of their most important shooters.
Guard Eric Gordon, the Rockets’ second-leading scorer, has averaged just 12.3 points on 30.3 percent shooting in his past three games after scoring at least 17 points in each of his first 13 games of the season. Gordon made just four of 24 3-pointers in last week’s games after making 39.2 percent in his previous 10 games.
Forward Ryan Anderson shot well last week but begins a four-game homestand making just 38 percent of his shots at Toyota Center and just 28.9 percent of his 3s (compared with 47.2 percent shooting and 43.5 percent 3-point shooting on the road).
Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said he was unconcerned with either trend.
“It usually works itself out,” D’Antoni said. “It’s the thermostat rule. A thermostat, if it’s set at 72, eventually it’s going to get to 72. They have their career percentages. Hopefully, we can go above that by a little bit more by doing a few things. But if a guy is below what he normally shoots, we just hold our breath a little bit, hang in, and make sure everything’s done right. Most of the time, it works out.”
A chance to find home remedy
The Rockets begin a four-game homestand with a 4-3 record at Toyota Center, the second-fewest home wins of any team in the NBA with a winning record (the 76ers are 3-3). With 11 of their next 14 games in Houston, Wednesday’s matchup against the Denver Nuggets marks the start of a stretch during which the Rockets hope to build some momentum at home.
The Rockets are a league-best 9-1 on the road, but guard James Harden said their home record could be limited just by circumstances in the small sample size.
“It could have been the other way around where we were 9-1 at home,” Harden said. “It’s just unfortunate those games we lost, certain things happen.
“We finally got Chris (Paul) back. Everybody’s back. We kind of can get in a rhythm here at home and grind these games out.”
Paul will make his home debut Wednesday. Luc Mbah a Moute returned from an illness Saturday at Memphis. Ryan Anderson is expected back from an illness that kept him out of practice.
“It’s not about what the other team does,” Harden said. “It’s about us going out there and playing the same level, with the competitive nature, that competitive edge, just try to play the game at a high level, and always have each other’s back. When we have that mindset consistently, it will be tough to beat us.”