HOUSTON ROCKETS

UPSYDE SPORTS PRESENTS:

Is Jalen Green Holding the Rockets Back?

As many have probably seen from previous publications, that I'm super bullish on Jalen Green. He's probably the highest ceiling player in the draft, even higher than Evan Mobley and Franz Wagner, both of whom have been killing it.

Unlike Mobley, the Rockets are dead last in the East. The Cavs are one game over .500 and several of their losses came with the absence of him. Jalen Green on the other hand has missed 3 games, all of which have been wins. For a team like the Rockets that have been actively trying to get bad, what if they found a formula to actually make them competitive?

The latter scenario is unlikely, seeing as how John Wall is still not playing games, but Kevin Porter Jr. has been completely unlocked since Green went down. In the 3-games on their current winning steak, Kevin Porter Jr. is averaging 16.0 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 10.7 APG, 1.7 SPG, and 2.0 3PG. Efficiency and turnovers continue to plague him, but those numbers are well above his season averages.

During this same period, Christian Wood has been playing at an All-Star level. His cheat-code level of play currently sits at 24.3 PPG, 15.7 RPG, 3.0 APG, 2.3 BPG, and 2.3 3PG on 56% shooting and only 1.7 TOPG. Jae'Sean Tate is averaging 13.0 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 4.7 APG on 55% shooting, and Garrison Matthews, who came out of nowhere is averaging 17.0 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 4.0 3PG, is shooting 57% from the field and has not committed a turnover.

Maybe this is just an anomaly, maybe this is just a fluke. The Houston Rockets were able to beat both the Chicago Bulls and the Charlotte Hornets, in addition to a gritty Oklahoma City team. Maybe I'm looking too much into this streak, but it's possible they gave Jalen too big of a role too fast. The Houston Rockets have several players not likely to finish the season on their team, so it might behoove them to let Jalen work the bench until the deadline when Gordon and Theis are likely moved or bought out. At some point Jalen Green is going to be a star, there is no doubt in my mind, but even Kobe Bryant spent two years on the bench before his 3rd season breakout. Even Kobe averaged 42% from the field his rookie year and 43% his sophomore year - sometimes shooters just need to keep shooting. 

- Adam Safianow - NBA Analyst - Upsyde Sports [Copyright 2021]

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