Houston Rockets Showcase Alarming Trends After First 3 Games

The Houston Rockets joined the Memphis Grizzlies and Portland Trailblazers as the only teams in the NBA with a 0-3 record last night.

While the Rockets were not expected to be world beaters this season, the goal was to improve from their 60-loss season last year due to the additions of Dillon Brooks, Fred VanVleet, and coach Ime Udoka. However, they got off to the same start, losing three consecutive games.

While social media is abuzz with Steph Curry embarrassing Brooks in the fourth quarter (I don’t know what else to call it!), the truth is that all of their losses have been a team effort. It’s true that the Rockets have all season to right the ship, but before things get too horrible, Houston needs to solve some problems.

First is the play of Jabari Smith Jr. In three games, he is averaging 11.3 points and 7.3 rebounds. Those are about on par with last season, but with veteran leadership, a better coach, and an entire offseason, some improvement would be expected. He has been a non-factor in all three games so far.

In order to tap into the potential that got him drafted third overall last season, he needs a wake-up call. Trading for a center to motivate him might do the trick, as on-court motivations have seemingly done little. Victor Wembanyama blocked him twice in possession and stole the game from him on Friday, and he turned around and dropped another dud on Sunday.

The lackluster effort under the basket is not all on Smith Jr. The Rockets are dead last in rebounding, with only 38.6 per game. No team has done that poorly since the 2016-17 Dallas Mavericks, who went 33-49. With 79 games to get back on track, it would be embarrassing if Houston continues at this rate.

Despite poor play by their lottery pick and a total inability to play physical basketball (they also rank last in loose balls recovered!), perhaps the most demoralizing part of watching this team play is their effort late in the game. They have been outscored in the fourth quarter 65-89.

If they maintained that effort across all four quarters, they would lose every game by 32 points. Conversely, if they maintained their point differential in the first three quarters over the course of an entire game, they would only lose by six points, which would be an improvement of nearly two points compared to last season.

The new-look Rockets are playing too similarly to last season to make fans comfortable or satisfied with the growth. That's if there has been any growth. As Houston looks to beat the Hornets on Wednesday night, fans should probably wait until the tenth game to hit the panic button, but I would get ready to break the glass that surrounds it.