Defense evolving to strength
From the Rockets’ season opener against the Trail Blazers to Thursday’s game against Portland in Toyota Center, a weakness could be becoming a strength.
The Rockets’ turnaround — with a seasonbest, three-game winning streak and four victories in the seven games since the trade of James Harden despite playing with two or three starters out for each game — has been largely built on improvement defensively.
The Rockets had been the 22nd-ranked defensive team prior to the trade. They have had the fifthranked defense since, moving to sixth overall this season.
“(It’s) us getting more aggressive and getting more familiar with what we need to do,” Rockets guard Eric Gordon said of the turnaround. “We have to get going as far as the season, being a playoff team. I think we can. It was all about developing and learning what we need to do to move forward. We’ve got to be more aggressive on the ball, and that’s what we’re doing. It’s been working out well for us.”
With the Wizards scoring 88 points Tuesday, the fewest the Rockets have allowed this season, the team has given up 110 points once in seven games and an average of 105.7 points per game. The Rockets had given up 110 points in seven of their first nine games and an average of 113.2 points.
In the past seven games, opponents have made just 30.9 percent of their 3-pointers, down from 38.1 percent in the first nine games. The Trail Blazers, the sixth-ranked offensive team in the NBA, scored 128 points in an overtime win against the Rockets in the season opener.
“The entire coaching staff, they’ve been very detailed in the areas we need to improve and the guys (have) the willingness to correct those mistakes. It’s a combination,” Rockets center DeMarcus Cousins said. “I think everything is coming together
at the right time.”
The Rockets have benefited from playing the Bulls, Pistons, Mavericks and Wizards, who were all missing key players. But with the Rockets also short-handed, they have effectively used small-ball lineups without a center to control games defensively.
“That’s a great group for switching,” Gordon said. “Everybody is a like size and very aggressive. We’re going to be a hard group to stop because we’re versatile offensively and defensively. As long as we continue to grow together an continue to be physical and aggressive, that group will always do
well.”
Porter logs first team practice
While the Rockets are still working on a plan for how to add second-year guard Kevin Porter Jr. to the mix, Porter received his first work with the team Wednesday since being acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Porter, who had not played or practiced with a team since last March, had been doing individual workouts, making some work at the limited practice a step toward being available to play.
“We’re still kind of trying to work through
that,” Rockets coach Stephen Silas said of plans to get Porter up to speed. “He’s been here and he’s been great. He’s been attentive. We’ve been doing individual stuff with him as well, and today, he joined the team stuff.
“We’re just integrating him slowly. We’re coming up with a plan that makes sense for him and for the team. He hasn’t played in a while. He’s kind of just learning. He’s a young kid, but he’s very talented. When he first got here, we had to make sure that we’re really, really smart about the structure we have put in place for him on and off the floor.”