HOUSTON – Hey guys, it’s Ari Alexander checking in with the Houston Rockets, who are having a resurgent season under head coach Ime Udoka.
Let’s run through some of the important points we’re seeing with this team.
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DILLON’S RETURN
Friday night, Dillon Brooks dropped 26 on his former team, helping Houston get to five straight wins and 13-9 overall. Brooks and the Rockets started slow, but woke up in the 2nd half. Brooks had 24 in the second half including the game-winning dagger. Houston is firmly in playoff position and continue to look totally different than last season.
THE DEFENSIVE END
The Rockets are 2nd in the NBA in defensive rating. 2nd. In the whole NBA. To give you an idea where they were before this year - 29th, 30th, 27th the three previous seasons under Stephen Silas. This isn’t necessarily to bag on Silas, but...they were one of the worst defenses in the league for three straight years and are suddenly 2nd.
There can’t be enough said or written about the coaching job that Ime Udoka has done, along with the veteran leadership of guys like Fred Van Vleet, Dillon Brooks and Jeff Green.
The Rockets are stifling teams and grinding out wins against quality opponents.
The Rockets are 8th in the NBA in net rating, and through more than a quarter of season look to be a legit playoff team.
WHAT’S NEXT
The week before Christmas is an extremely busy one for Houston. They have five games throughout the week, starting Sunday vs. the Bucks then Monday vs. Cleveland on the road. Houston comes home to face Atlanta Wednesday then Dallas Friday, then head on the road for a back to back with the Pelicans Saturday.
