Alex Slitz/Getty Images
Alex Slitz/Getty Images
Alex Slitz/Getty Images
Alex Slitz/Getty Images
Alex Slitz/Getty Images
Alex Slitz/Getty Images
Alex Slitz/Getty Images
Alex Slitz/Getty Images
Alex Slitz/Getty Images
Ashley Landis/Associated Press
Ashley Landis/Associated Press
Alex Slitz/Getty Images
Ashley Landis/Associated Press
Ashley Landis/Associated Press
Ashley Landis/Associated Press
Ashley Landis/Associated Press
Ashley Landis/Associated Press
Alex Slitz/Getty Images
Ashley Landis/Associated Press
Ashley Landis/Associated Press
Ashley Landis/Associated Press
The top line of the Houston Rockets’ offensive checklist might have been to make open shots, and they did plenty of that to blow out the New Orleans Pelicans, 133-113, on Thursday. But that was just the start of the list.
They wanted better, more consistent pace.
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They wanted more ball movement, with passes to open shooters and extra passes to turn good shots into better shots.
The Rockets wanted to leave the ignominy of ranking as one of the league’s worst shooting teams in Las Vegas. But more than that, they wanted improvements that could last, built on more than the hope that shots that have often been missed would now reliably go in.
Some of the Rockets’ 57.5% shooting, and 43.6% 3-point shooting, both their best of the season, was just about shooting well. But that was only part of producing their second most points in a game this season and doing it after failing to score 100 in three of their previous four games. The Rockets, who moved to 12-0 when making 45% of their shots or better, had made 27.6% of their 3s in that stretch.
Jalen Green, who had 34 points, his third most this season, made 13 of 22 shots and scored 22 in the third quarter when he nearly matched his previous two games combined.
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Dillon Brooks, who scored 20 of his 26 points in the first half, made 10 of 16 shots, coming within two points of his top scoring game of the season.
Beyond that, the Rockets had assists on 34 of their 50 field goals, matching their most this season. They believed the pace and ball movement is sustainable, even if making 57.5% shooting routine might be too much to expect.
“It’s very hard to guard, hard to scout,” Brooks said. “It’s not just bog down after one action and iso. It’s drive, kick, pass, extra pass, wide-open 3. It’s hard to play in (defensive) rotations all game long. We did a great job of it today.
“We shared the basketball, we found good shots, we shot with confidence and what’s so good is that every night, we’re trusting our teammates, regardless of if they’re having an off night.”
The other part of that list, playing with pace, was at least as crucial. The Rockets looked to run more regularly, and not just after live-ball turnovers. They scored 19 points off turnovers, roughly their average. But they had 28 fast break points, four shy of their most this season and nearly 10 more than their average to rank second in fast break scoring in the NBA.
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“Really, just (we) were playing fast, scoring in transition,” Green said. “Getting defensive stops and that led to dunks. And then, saw a couple go in, so it was nice.
“That has been the main thing for us, to run more. We want to play fast. We have a lot of athletes. So, coach has emphasized that, and as a team, we try to get stops and get out and run.”
The Rockets ran so relentlessly in the third quarter, that after Green started with a pair of free throws, a driving layup and a 3-pointer, he held a dunk contest. He slammed home passes from Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Şengün, and off a steal.
“I feel like we got back to playing faster, for sure, from the start,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “Defense to offense is always a good formula for us, and it stood out rewatching the preseason game (against the Pelicans) with the pace we were playing at. It’s obviously an emphasis coming into the season and talked to guys about that, get out running. The shots are going to be there, be strong with it in the pocket and shoot confidently.”
The Rockets often found Şengün in the pocket, with the Rockets center moving the ball back out to the perimeter. He had seven assists to go with his 23 points on 10 of 14 shooting. But the passes to him that drew the Pelicans’ defense triggered offense around him.
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Just as missed shots led to more missed shots in the previous games, the hot shooting to start — the Rockets made six consecutive 3s after missing their first of the night — seemed to ignite the shooting throughout the rotation.
“Obviously, they are doing certain things to make us prove it, so the looks are going to be there,” Udoka said. “Got a ton of shots up the last few days. Bodies are healthy. I feel like we played at a faster pace and our guys had a good pep in their step.
“Guys got off on the right foot. I felt like everybody was taking the right shots, moving the ball. One goes in and everyone else gets more confident.”
When the Pelicans made a move, cutting a 26-point lead in half, Udoka returned his starting lineup to the floor with eight minutes left. The Rockets made nine of their next 11 shots to take the lead back to a safe 21. They had assists on six of those field goals, indicating that the Rockets relied on passing even when things were not going as easily as they had been to start.
“We work on that,” Green said. “We have a lot of good shooters on the team. When they’re falling, (the passing) makes it a lot easier. We haven’t shot our best the whole season. We had a couple games, but that’s us.
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“It’s hard to double-team when we’re running, touching the paint, passing out. That’s way easier.”
Scoring had rarely been as easy this season. But if the goal was to find the “rhythm” and “flow” as Rockets guard Fred VanVleet had so often put it last weekend, the Rockets will try to make it last to check off another line of the to-do list.
Playing a team that has had 17 starting lineups, the Rockets had their usual.
Rockets center Alperen Şengün, who was questionable, was in the starting lineup with Dillon Brooks, Jabari Smith Jr., Jalen Green and Fred VanVleet. The Rockets have used just two starting lineups this season, with VanVleet twice missing games with injuries.
The news was not all good. Forward Tari Eason was ruled out for injury maintenance. Center Steven Adams, who was also questionable, is available.
The Pelicans used the same starting lineup for a season-long fourth consecutive game with Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III, C.J. McCollum, Dejounte Murray and Yves Missi starting.
Rockets coach Ime Udoka said pregame that Alperen Şengün, Tari Eason and center Steven Adams — all listed as questionable on the injury report — are game-time decisions to play against the Pelicans.
Pelicans guard Jordan Hawkins, who had missed New Orleans’ past eight games with a back injury, was upgraded from questionable and will be available to play against the Rockets on Thursday.
Hawkins, a 6-5 second-year guard out of Connecticut, has frequently been included on the Pelicans’ long injury list, with the Pelicans going 2-14 in games he has missed this season. Hawkins is averaging 13.1 points but has made just 37.1% of his shots, 33.3% of his 3s.
Rockets center Alperen Şengün (sore left knee), forward Tari Eason (lower left leg injury management) and center Steven Adams (left ankle sprain) are all listed as questionable on Houston’s injury report. Jordan Hawkins (lumbar spine annular fissure) is questionable to play for New Orleans, while Jose Alvarado (left hamstring strain), Brandon Ingram (left ankle sprain), Karlo Matkovic (low back disc protrusion), Daniel Theis (personal reasons) and Zion Williamson (left hamstring strain) are all out.
Şengün, Eason and Adams were all present and participated in Rockets shootaround on Thursday. Şengün has played in every game for the Rockets this season. Eason missed two games in concussion protocol earlier this month. Adams, who continues a long recovery process from knee surgery that kept him from playing last season, sat out 12 of Houston’s first 26 games this season but was active for the last seven games leading up to Thursday (and played in six of them).
Date: Thursday, Dec. 19
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Toyota Center
TV: Space City Home Network
Radio: KBME 790/ KTRH 740 AM, TUDN 93.3 FM (Spanish)
Odds courtesy of BetOnline.
Favorite: Rockets (-9)
Rockets moneyline: -405
Pelicans moneyline: +325
Over-under total: 217.5
