Houston Rockets: Concerns About Team Defense?

And here we are Houston Rockets’ fans. There’s one more game left in the preseason and then it’s time to get to it! The 2016-17 will be in full swing and we’re about the find out what the Houston Rockets are made of.

And here we are Houston Rockets‘ fans. There’s one more game left in the preseason and then it’s time to get to it! The 2016-17 will be in full swing and we’re about the find out what the Houston Rockets are made of.

The preseason has been a delightful one so far. They’ve been able to handle their opponents with some difficulty but eventually came out the victor.

Through six games, the Houston Rockets have amassed a 5-1 record which is quite an accomplishment as we all wondered each game last season if they were going to win or not.

Our confidence had been shattered to an all-time low as the chemistry had gone to hell and it seemed as if each game was a laborious event, not something that they loved to do.

But things have changed now, with new players, coaching staff and most importantly, a new mindset.

They’ve been quite a rambunctious bunch on the offensive end, not having gone a game without scoring in the triples.

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We know that scoring points won’t be a problem with this bunch as it seemed specifically assembled to work with Mike D’Antoni‘s seven seconds or less scheme.

And the stats don’t lie either.

The Rockets have scored 731 points over the past six preseason games, averaging 121.8 points per contest.

That’s remarkable and I’ve noticed that the ball movement is a lot more fluid.

There’s less tendency to isolate James Harden and have the rest of the team stand around and watch him dribble around the court, eating up valuable shot-clock time.

That could be instrumental in this team’s success but I still have my concerns about the team defense.

Yes, we’ve got to talk about this.

In the preseason, the Houston Rockets have given up 643 points, allowing 107.2 points per contest.

Of course, they’re giving up less points than they’ve been scoring or else they wouldn’t be winning games but the possibility that this team could be giving up more than 100 points per game is a strong. And it doesn’t necessarily mean this team is defensively efficient.

Will that win basketball games?

We’ll have to see.

I see that they’re rotations are a lot better on that end but all bets are off until the start of the season.

When this team starts facing the stronger defensive teams such as the Golden State Warriors, the San Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Clippers, it will be a true tell-all of how we will fare this season.

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But because the Houston Rockets provide such an offensive threat where they can beat their opponents in a multitude of ways — inside and out — we’ll be scoring so much that the defense may not matter as much.

You can bet your bottom dollar that D’Antoni feels the same way as well.

Tomorrow’s final exhibition match up against the Spurs will definitely one you’ll want to keep your eyes peeled on and you could cautiously use a measuring stick because nobody defends better than they do.

Gregg Popovich has those guys trained to a tee and you better believe they’re going to be prepared, firing on all cylinders.

I can’t wait.

They’ll take them on the road at the AT&T Center and tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CDT.

Go Houston Rockets.

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