For a majority of the first half of the season, the rockets were only to Oklahoma City Thunder in defensive rating, which helped to drive Houston up the Western Conference position.
Houston, however, has experienced the slipping of late, sliding to fourth in defensive rating while losing six consecutive matches before they beat Toronto Raptors on Sunday. That competition started a three-match-homeland before the All-Star break that continues on Wednesday against Phoenix Suns.
Part of the defensive decline can be linked to injuries, especially the loss of forward Jabari Smith Jr. (Hand), which last played on January 1st.
Houston was a 17th defensive rating in January and is 15th this month. A rash of changes in the rotation has weakened the rockets, with the guard Fred Vanvleet (ankle) also on the side while All-Star Center Alperen Sengun (BACK) will be a gaming decision against Suns after leaving in the first quarter against Toronto on Sunday.
Rockets also has a regressed when it comes to their communication about defense, an issue that they hope to be resolved during the break.
“Some guys are always on their way, others have to come up with it,” said rocket coach Ime Udoka. “But it is always difficult for you to direct traffic around when you struggle to recognize what happens yourself. The more comfortable the guys are and the more accustomed to certain coverage they see – schedules and things we talk about – they can Communicate to their teammates before and we can all be on the same string there.
“We have had ups and downs. I think the lack of exercise time has damaged our communication and we have had some slip there. But film sessions are a little longer this time of year, and with rest outside the court, we ‘I will come back there we was earlier in the year. ”
Suns dropped a game below .500 with a home loss of 119-112 to Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday and continued what spirals into an overwhelming campaign.
Determined their disappointing game during the first half of the year were reports that Suns traded all-Star forward Kevin Durant, who on Tuesday became the eighth player in the NBA history to surpass 30,000 career points, at the trade deadline.
Durant remained in the end in Phoenix, but given the presence of Devin Booker and Bradley Beal on their list, Sun’s higher hopes than to keep up with the teams that fought for a quay in the Play-in tournament after the season.
If unable to make wholesale changes, the suns are left with a focus on things they can control.
“I’m always starting with being good defensively,” said Suns coach Mike Budenholzer. “I think (we must) continue to grow at the end of the court. I believe that the continued emphasis on rebounding (is the key). We must end the possessions, we must be better there. When we ‘re active and when we communicate and we are Connected, that is when we are best defensively.
“When we move the ball, when we find three (we enjoy). And can we improve our ability to walk and get offensive boards? It’s a type of bike. We have to be good throughout the bike.”
Durant made her part on Tuesday and returned from a three-game absence caused by a justified left ankle to get 34 points on his milestone night. Suns still lost for the fifth time in six matches.
Durant said he joined LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki and Wilt Chamberlain in the 30,000 point club, “A real honor to be in the same category as the players who helped to help Shape games and push the game forward. ”
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