Let’s kickoff the holiday season with our wishlist.
Happy December! As the Holiday season approaches let us take a look at five things sure to be obnoxious on any Rocket’s fans’ wishlist.
Increased consistency from Jalen Green
After a fantastic month of March to close out the season, Jalen Green signed a $106 million extension this summer. This keeps him under contract for the next two seasons with a player option in the third. Many fans expected Jalen to step up after receiving his extension, and for the first five or six games, it looked like Jalen was getting there. For the month of October, he shot over 40 percent from three. However, Jalen only shot 27 percent from three during November which is a much larger sample size. Jalen has all the tools to be great and has shown fans he could be great, he just needs to pull it together and be consistent for a larger sample size of games.
Steven Adams to improve or for the Rockets to find a serviceable backup center
Like many other Rockets fans, I was ecstatic when Houston traded for Steven Adams. However, I am sure I am not the only one disappointed in Steven Adams’ Rockets tenure thus far. To start, Adams is coming off a massive knee injury that he sustained in January 2023 and received surgery for that November. This means that Adams’ first time playing an actual NBA basketball game was when he first played with Houston on October 28. What is puzzling about Adams however is that so far this season, head coach Ime Udoka is playing Adams only every two to three days. This is odd because it was said Adams was fully recovered going into this season, and this leads fans to wonder if there is something going on behind the scenes. Additionally, when Adams does play, he has been a net negative for Houston, thus far averaging career lows in points and rebounds. If Adams is not the answer at the backup five or can’t play more than every two to three days, Houston needs to figure something out.
BETTER THREE-POINT SHOOTING PLEASE
Perhaps the number one thing I want for this Rockets team is better three-point shooting. All across the Rockets’ roster, players are struggling to shoot from deep. As a team, the Houston Rockets are shooting just 33 percent from three. This is better than only the Philadelphia 76ers, the Orlando Magic, the New Orleans Pelicans, and the Washington Wizards. We saw firsthand how a poor three-point shooting night could cost the Rockets a game earlier this season versus the Portland Trail Nlazers on November 23 when Houston as a team made only eight three-pointers compared to Portland’s 18. That is a 30-point difference right there! Thankfully, it appears so far that Fred and Dillion are finding their shots, and if they can continue to improve from deep along with Jalen and Jabari, hopefully this team can be shooting at least league average from deep.
For Reed to be sent to the G League
Rockets number three overall pick Reed Shepard has had an interesting start to his career. It is clear that the Rockets are trying to improve and win games, but they also have to balance that with developing another young prospect in Reed Sheppard. Reed has done decently well in his minutes, despite looking to facilitate more often than score. However, I feel it would be best for both parties for Reed to spend some time down in the G league. We have seen just how deep this roster can be, you have your starting five (Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr, Fred Vanvlert, and Dillion Brooks) the terror twins (Tari Eason and Amen Thompson), and then Jock Landale and Steven Adams as your backup bigs. This is not even including other veterans such as Aaron Holiday and Jeff Green or your other young guard Cam Whitmore who has already been sent to the G league. Allowing Reed the time to work and improve his game In a less competitive environment would do wonders for the guard and his confidence.
Good health and no major injuries
Finally, we have what every fan surely has on their wishlist this holiday season — good health and no injuries. While of course injuries are a part of the game, nobody wants to see their favorite player or team’s best player go down with an injury, so here’s to hoping for no major or season-ending injuries.
I hope you all have a wonderful December and a great holiday season no matter what you celebrate! Don’t forget to spend time with friends and family and also find time to watch your Houston Rockets!