Marquese Chriss understands his role in Rockets’ offense this season.
D’Antoni wants newcomer to run fast and jump high
If you had a busy week, you might have missed Brandan Wright’s Rockets career last season. It lasted about as long as a green banana or a New Year’s resolution.
Until now, its place in the Rockets’ 65-win season had not reached footnote status. But there could be a lesson about the upcoming season to be found in that one game and 15 minutes of playing time.
The Rockets wanted Wright’s rim-running skills off the bench last season, and they want those sorts of talents to come this season from Marquese Chriss, who at 6-10 is the same height as Wright.
That was never Chriss’ job in Phoenix. His more well-rounded offensive skills had the rebuilding Suns looking for scoring facing the basket and on the perimeter out to the 3-point line.
The Rockets, as is Mike D’Antoni’s usual inclination, will keep things simple. Most of Chriss’ offensive duties will be filled with running fast and either jumping high or drawing defenders that leave shooters open with the “vertical spacing” D’Antoni so values.
Chris to Chriss chemistry
When he gets more playing time with Chris Paul running the second-team offense, Chriss will start with a screen in the middle of the floor and cut hard to the rim. There will be some of the dribble handoffs that are part of the job for Rockets centers.
After two unsatisfying, losing seasons with the Suns, Chriss was ready to have a well-defined job description.
“The difference is they know what they want me to do,” said Chriss, who likely will start against the Indiana Pacers on Thursday with Clint Capela (sore right foot) doubtful. “They’re asking me to do a specific job. I’m trying to do it to the best of my ability. There really is no question about what they want my role to be. They made it straightforward to me when I first got traded here. I embraced it, and I’m working to do it as best as I can.
“Being on the Suns, it was kind of touch and go what we were capable of doing or I was able to show.”
During Tuesday’s 131-115 victory over Memphis, Paul found him behind the Grizzlies’ defense, sending Chriss above the rim to snare a long lob pass and slam it home. That came in a rough first half when Chriss had five turnovers in 9½ minutes on the floor. But he settled in as the game progressed, showing the potential the Rockets hope will make him a valuable option off the bench on the nights they don’t utilize Nene’s muscle and defense.
A key to that, as the improvement from one half to the next on Tuesday demonstrated, could be to play rapidly but not frantically.
“He’s so athletic, he can go fast without looking like he’s going fast,” D’Antoni said. “He’s got a lot of talent. We need certain things, and I think he can give it to us. I think he’s going to be a force.
“We didn’t do our pick-and-rolls great, but he’s one guy you can lob to. He can block shots at the rim. He gives you another athlete on the floor. He was like everybody. He was a little anxious.”
Chriss also was getting accustomed to playing with Paul, a point guard unlike any he had played with before. The Rockets kept Paul and James Harden together in training camp, but in games Paul will run the second team, with the Chris and Chriss chemistry potentially vital.
“He had never played with Chris before. They’ll develop chemistry, and it will get better,” D’Antoni said.
“Playing with great players, great guards at that, they find you and they give you the ball where you’re supposed to have it,” Chriss said. “Being able to figure it out quickly is the biggest adjustment for me. Just trying to catch the ball inside, read and make the right decisions.”
An adjustment period
After his turnover-filled start Tuesday, Chriss did not have a turnover in his eight minutes in the second half. He made all four of his attempts, scoring 11 points. In one stretch of the second half, he put together a run of solid defensive possessions that, as with his offensive game, showed skills to develop, but very much a work in progress.
“This being the first game, getting out there and being able to compete with these guys was something different,” Chriss said. “The first half was kind of me getting the feel for my spacing, against different types of defenses. We play against each other every day so we kind of figure out how to play against that. Teams play differently, so I just had to read an adjust.
“I obviously have to keep trying to prove myself, especially when it comes to my teammates, earning their trust and their faith that I’m going to do what they expect.”