It was a fine first half.
I wouldn’t normally describe a pre-season game as grueling. This one was. It took a lot to get through, to talk through. Partly it was because of the second half lineups that started out odd and unlikely and ended up around Vegas Summer League in quality.
The Rockets started off, as you might expect of an Ime Udoka team coming off a week pre-season practice, with strong defense, and iffy offensive execution. Ime’s post-game comments indicate he actually does want the team to score points, so that’s something. Sometimes last year I wasn’t entirely sure. The Rockets only scored 20 in the first quarter, which looks at bit wan, but the Jazz managed 12, and were lucky to get four of them.
The second quarter saw the Rockets offense come alive, along with some strong offense from the Jazz, married to a lot of free throws from the Jazz. The Rockets scored 40, but allowed 37. Which isn’t so great.
The main thing about the second quarter is, as rocky as Jalen Green’s start was, and it was definitely shaky, his second quarter was sublime. He nailed threes, he made layups, he made good passes, hell, he even blocked a shot. Jalen ended his 20 minutes with 21pts on 7-14 shooting, 4-9 from three (including a couple of silly heat checks) along with 3 rebounds. All the bad stuff was basically in the first quarter (4 TO).
Also great was Alperen Sengun. He basically now looks like he can score at will, and just needs the will to score more, to be a bit selfish sometimes, to just throw it down instead of making a cute pass that often doesn’t work. Still, in 22 minutes Alpie had 17pts on 6-8 shooting, went 1-2 from three, made 4-4 FT, grabbed four boards, had three steals, and a block. He was called for a foul for standing near Lauri Markkanen.
Finally there’s Amen. Who is now up to 90% Pure Menace. One of his steals was described as “Kawhi Like” over on the Greenroom, and it was. A Jazz player was dribbling near Amen, expected to go past at speed, and Amen just seemed to…remove the ball, hardly moving his hands. Amen had 13, also on 6-8 shooting, with 3 boards, 1 assist, and two steals.
The third featured an all out assault by the Utah Jazz, from the free throw line. The Jazz shot 20 of their 43(!) free throws in that quarter, playing primarily their best lineups. The Rockets played mostly weird lineups, and some Cam Whitmore, who true to my fake Media Day comments is starting his Dunk On The World Tour early. When you see him take off from the free throw line you assume the shot will be a floater, a finger roll, not a thunderous jam. But it is. It is a thunderous jam. Cam had 17pts in 19 minutes (aw, not a point per minute or more) on, again, 6-8 shooting, 2-4 from three (the silky moonshot is back) had 2 rebounds, an assist, three steals, and a block. Cam looked to be trying on defense, and given his physique and gifts, that might be enough.
Anyhow, the Jazz came back by shooting a lot of free throws, no a lot, 43. Lauri Markannen, in this game anyway, turned into more of a grifter than James Harden ever dreamed of being. His main move was to dribble into defenders, swing his arm, and shoot free throws. He certainly couldn’t score the regular “playing basketball” way, going a frosty 3-11. But hey, 3-11 looks fine with 11-13 FT! Lou Williams thought it was a bit much, when I asked him.*
Without 38 made FT the Jazz probably don’t win. But they shot them, and they did win. Congrats.
I’m not sure what this referee crew was out to prove, but 65 free throws in a preseason game is absurd. The second half was unwatchable. It was like we were transported back to the worst excesses of 2017, with the horrible offensive player initiated “defensive fouls” of the first half of last season thrown in. I’d like to say I don’t blame the Jazz for taking advantage of this friendly whistle, but I do. I had thought we’d gone back to a contest between men, at the end of last season.
You’re probably wondering about Reed Sheppard. Well, the mustache must go. It’s ruining his shot. Reed went 2-7, and 0-4 from three point range. He did affect the scoreline in other ways, going 3rbs/3ast/1st/2blk/1TO. One of his assists was a beautiful crosscourt touchdown toss to Amen Thompson. His defensive positioning is odd, he’s setting himself up to one side of the attacker, inviting the offensive player to beat him from that side, so he can swoop in behind and steal the ball. For now Ime and co are seeing how it goes.
Jabari Smith started this one like he started VSL last summer. By the time he woke up, Ime was done with starters and almost all the second string.
Literally everyone but Thon Maker and the guys being rested (Jeff Green, Tari Eason, Dillon Brooks (looking like a Sytherin professor, and Jock Landale) played. Hinton and Williams play like their hair is on fire, Tate got called for five fouls (three were real) and Adams looked rusty, but the “You can’t get past his picks.” stuff is real. A lot of Rockets are going to get a lot of room to operate from them.
That’s it from Utah. Wish it was two halves of fun, but it was one.
That was a lot to write, but it’s been a LONG off season.
- I did not ask Lou Williams, but I assume that’s what he would say.