Sengun sees the benefits from facing stars

Rockets rookie Alperen Sengun did not have to wait long to get his first NBA experience competing against a Turkish teammate. In his second preseason game, Sengun matched up for a stretch against Miami Heat reserve Omer Yurtseven, even chatting for a few moments during free throws in the fourth quarter.

Sengun and Yurtseven are among five Turkish NBA players.

Fun as that was, however, a few of the other matchup left more of an impression.

“I know Omer really well,” Sengun said through interpreter Orhun Gungoren. “We played with the (Turkish) national team a couple of times, and we are good with him. And also, I played against ( Dewayne) Dedmon and ( Bam) Adebayo in the Miami game. I really like them. I want to be like them, working and practicing. I respect them.”

Though Sengun excelled last season in the Turkish league, considered one of the most competitive in the world, and in summer league with the Rockets, there are lessons to take from his first two preseason games.

“I was very excited before both games,” Sengun said. “I was watching them since I was a kid. I was watching Adebayo, Kyle Lowry ,( Markieff) Morris .I was thinking about them and that I will put something on my game and improve myself.”

Silas thinks Heat game was good test

The Rockets’ return to practice, and especially to a video session on Saturday, had them experiencing Thursday’s game against the Miami Heat again, this time to work on shoring up shortcomings revealed.

“They are a veteran, hardplaying, tough team,” Rockets coach Stephen Silas said. “A lot of the things they did are things that we want to become. Today, we showed a lot of transition defense where they were running the ball up our backs. It was a great test and we learned a lot from the video on both ends of the floor. I think the main thing we learned is the mindset that’s necessary to go into a game like that against a team like that.”

While the transition defense was a clear issue, especially in Lowry’s 18 minutes, there were other areas deemed priorities. But Silas also reminded his rebuilt team that is to be expected.

Forward Jae’Sean Tate, who sat out Thursday’s game with back tightness, went through portions of practice. He is expected to be cleared for the full practice on Sunday and to play Monday in Toronto. Guard Eric Gordon, who was out with a sore left ankle, did not practice, though Silas said the Rockets are being “extra cautious.”