For a very special match between Rockets and Bucks this Sunday evening, it was the young people of Houston who offered their best face. The best victory of their season? Certainly. Without their coach, Stephen Silas, the friends of Jalen Green locked Milwaukee to win: final score, 97-92.
He had lost his father Paul Silas, this Sunday.
He was not with his players, facing almost complete Bucks. Dirty vibe for Jabari Smith and his buddies, right?
Well sometimes, a context can make you go beyond your own limits. And led by assistant John Lucas, the Rockets simply delivered their best score of the entire season. Perhaps even, as local commentators pointed out following the game, this franchise’s best defensive score since the James Harden transfer-related turn two years ago. The challenge was daunting: to hold the Bucks from a Giannis who had run over them at the start of the season, with 44 points in 28 minutes.
This Sunday ? The Freak left with 16 points at 7/17 shooting, and only 6 shots attempted.
Jabari Smith in the lead, Bruno Fernando in the field, grassroots team effort and maximum focus from start to finish, it was far from won for the Rockets but they certainly found in them the resources to build this anti-Greek wall. Don’t be fooled by the statistical production of the Rockets’ interior rookie, who hasn’t been as effective as hoped on offense. Defensively, Jabari has perhaps done his greatest job, the one that can help justify, in a single evening, the promises made around the 3rd choice of the last Draft.
Of course, to win a basketball game you don’t just have to defend: putting balls in baskets is a priority.
What a night for @JalenGreen ????
???? 30 PTS 7 REB 3 AST pic.twitter.com/do5v0q3QLs
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) December 12, 2022
And at this little game, Jalen Green still stuck his 30 points, yet sometimes being defended by renowned lads like Jrue Holiday or Jevon Carter. No problem for JG, knowing that Houston seems to have a penchant for the Bucks at home since Kevin Porter Jr gave them the performance of a lifetime two years ago (50 points). By adding the 18 pawns of KPJ and the small contributions of each, like Eric Gordon, Alperen Sengun or KJ Martin, the Rockets were able to leave with a smile.
Now, what regarding those Rockets, on a nice run recently? Winners once morest the Suns and once morest the Sixers, Tari Eason’s friends are testing themselves more and more once morest serious teams. Maybe the latter have lazy syndrome, seeing Houston on paper and deciding to play one level below, but that’s no reason to discredit the Rockets. Better still, it’s the perfect opportunity to cut your teeth and lay the foundations for the future, by learning, for example, to limit the Bucks to 5 points in the last 7 minutes of the match.
Dunks missed by Grayson Allen, there will be some, but Khris Middleton who stay more than 5 minutes on the floor, there will also be some.
As long as this young team learns little by little and validates the stages one following the other in the months to come, everything will go smoothly in the reconstruction process. A big step forward with this victory, will it be followed by small steps back? The answer on the next 6 games… all at home!