Rockets Starting To Figure Things Out As Season Winds Down: 'We Have Played Well'
HOUSTON — The Houston Rockets are on one of their most impressive stretches of the season entering Friday's game against the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Rockets are riding a two-game win streak after defeating the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers and have won four out of their last seven games.
Coach Stephen Silas revealed how the Rockets have relished playing spoilers down the stretch against playoff-hopeful teams. But the recent success Houston has experienced is the result of the team applying the lessons learned throughout the season.
"We have been watching a ton of game film," Silas said. "We have been talking about more situational type of stuff that leads to good play — and the ball movement has been good. Guys are coming in more confident than before. We are finding that when we play a certain way, the right way, we can be in games and win some."
The Rockets have overcome several issues that have plagued their season over the last seven games.
Houston has embraced not being a great 3-point shooting team and has thrived due to their ability to score from the inside. The Rockets have averaged 117.3 points on 50.2 percent shooting while scoring a league-best 65.7 points in the paint.
But most of their late-season success has been due to the improvements Houston has made to their late-game execution.
The Rockets withstood a fourth quarter collapse against the Celtics and Lakers, and the lessons came following their 119-111 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Saturday.
Houston held a 95-87 lead entering the final quarter, but the Bulls stormed back to open the period on a 12-3 run. Chicago had tied the game at 106 when Zach LaVine led the Bulls on a 13-6 run to close the game.
Silas said the team took the next few days to study and learn from their mid-fourth-quarter collapse and has credited the sessions for the late-season turnaround.
"We have played well and with purpose," Silas said. "Over the last two games, against the Celtics and Lakers, there has been no doubt they came ready to play. They've had the right readiness right from the jump.
"It's being a young team. But also understanding the importance of the readiness and understanding you need to come into a game."
Houston has 13 games left in the season, starting with a two-game mini-series against the Pelicans inside the Toyota Center.
Silas revealed his young corps will remain competitive and will play with a chip on their shoulders down the stretch. The Rockets' goal to close the season will be to win as many games as possible, and to continue their on-going development.
"We knew going into this season we wanted to be a team that is hard to play against," Silas said. "It's been an up-and-down season, but we are starting to figure things out as long as we play hard and make the right plays. We are a hard team to play against."
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