Houston Rockets: Luc Mbah a Moute needs to be retained ASAP

The Houston Rockets lost Trevor Ariza to free agency. With his departure, it makes the return of Luc Mbah a Moute even more necessary. Let’s take a look.

The Houston Rockets had an incredible 2017-18 season. They set a franchise record for wins in a regular season with 65 to only 17 losses. This record was best in the West and clinched the number one seed and home court advantage throughout the playoffs.

The Houston Rockets looked like the favorite to cruise through the playoffs. Then, the matchup we were all waiting for, the Golden State Warriors. It was a tough battle but, unfortunately, the Rockets couldn’t overcome the Warriors in seven games.

There are several things that could be attributed to the Rockets faltering against the Warriors. The obvious being that the Warriors are just a really good team and its a tough fight against them always. Chris Paul’s injury is another easy one to jump to, especially looking at the Warriors series specifically.

However, there is another injury that I can’t help but wonder about. That would be the shoulder injury to Luc Mbah a Moute that occurred at the end of the regular season. Mbah a Moute has a small history of shoulder injuries but, this one just appeared to zap him for the playoffs.

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Mbah a Moute has long been thought of as a standout defender but, last year he continued to up his three-point percentage. That was the part of the game that was wrecked for Mbah a Moute in the playoffs. He could still defend but, his shot was broken. That effectively removed him from the rotation.

When he was in the lineup, the Rockets held opponents to 101.2 points per 100 possessions. When he was on the bench, that number climbed to 105.5. That basically means the Rockets jumped between first and outside the top ten depending on Mbah a Moute. So, with his shot being off in the playoffs and the Houston Rockets playing other guys, their defense was not as good as it could’ve been.

The loss of Trevor Ariza hurts, that much is certain. Ariza was a stud defender and a good three-point shooter, well the majority of the time. But, he wasn’t the Rockets’ best defender. That would be Mbah a Moute.

The Warriors signed Boogie Cousins but, he may not be ready for a while. So, the Warriors will rock a small ball lineup until he returns. The Lakers with the addition of LeBron James will also be rocking a smaller lineup. Mbah a Moute will be essential for the Rockets to be able to defend those lineups.

Next: Three reasons to not worry about the Lakers' interest in Capela

So, there’s not really a splash move left to be made for the Houston Rockets. Clint Capela needs to be retained but, Mbah a Moute needs to be high on that list as well. His defensive chops and three-point shot will be key to Houston’s quest to return to the Finals for the first time in over twenty years.

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