The Houston Rockets are the most effective tales of the NBA season. When the franchise employed head coach Ime Udoka forward of final season, Houston was coming off three horrendous campaigns the place they received 17 video games, 20 video games, and 22 video games respectively. Udokda was employed to speed up their post-James Harden rebuild, and he’s completed that regardless of not having a real celebrity.
The closest factor the Rockets must a star participant in Alperen Şengün, who was named an All-Star for the primary time in his profession this yr. The Rockets chosen the Turkish huge man with the No. 16 general choose within the 2021 NBA Draft after he received MVP in his nation’s home league at simply 18 years previous. Şengün all the time had some particular expertise with the ball in his arms, and Udoka has molded him right into a serviceable defensive middle who can keep on the ground in huge moments.
Şengün has clearly watched lots of Nikola Jokic rising up. You may see Jokic’s fingerprints throughout Şengün’s recreation, and it particularly reveals up in his confidence passing the ball. Because the Rockets confronted the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night time, Şengün threw the most effective passes of the season, wanting like one thing straight out of the Jokic playbook with a little bit further aptitude for the dramatic.
Watch Şengün’s go right here:
Jokic’s passing is extra useful than flashy, however Şengün is including a little bit further sauce to his dimes. This can be a wild supply that led to 2 factors in a win for the Rockets. Having cutters as athletic as Tari Eason certain helps an enormous man who likes to go.
Houston beat the Suns, 111-104, to maintain tempo within the Western Convention standings.
Houston was holding down the No. 2 seed within the West for a lot of this season, and so they nonetheless have an honest shot at it with below 20 video games left to play. The Rockets improved to 41-25 general after beating the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night time, which ties their win complete from final yr. Nobody would have anticipated Udoka to steer the Rockets to 50+ wins simply two years after getting employed, but they’re poised to perform that and extra this season.
Şengün has talked about how Jokic is his idol. You may see the impression he’s left in his recreation even when he’s by no means going to be anyplace in his neighborhood as a participant. It’s so cool to see how the greats affect the following era, and Jokic has completed that with Şengün.
