The Houston Rockets were finally able to convert Danuel House’s contract. Here’s the reason why he’ll be crucial in the team’s championship pursuit.
The HoustonRocketsare surging at the moment, winning seven of their last eight games within the schedule. They’re peaking at the right time and it’s amazing how far they’ve come along considering how they started the season.
Although we were confident that it wouldn’t happen, many of us were concerned that this team wouldn’t make the playoffs which would be a the ultimate disappointment after a historical 65-win season and elongated playoff run that came down to just one key injury.
But now that notion is behind us, it’s time to focus on the HoustonRocketslocking up the No. 3 seed for the playoffs that will start next month. At the time of this writing, they currently have a 1.5 game lead over the Portland Trail Blazers for that coveted spot and if they stick with their winning ways, it’s for sure a lock for the HoustonRockets.
The team is currently three games behind the No. 2 team in the Denver Nuggets and four behind the Golden State Warriors, so it’s likely they won’t be able to catch them unless a severe breakdown occurs with either of those teams.
But you know what? It doesn’t matter as it’s important that they get a high-enough seeding in the playoffs to have some sort of home-court advantage.
If the postseason started today, the team would have a first-round match up with the San Antonio Spurs, a team that too started out the season ungracefully but has found their way with the plethora of young pieces that they have. If it’s Gregg Popovich-coached team, you can bet your bottom dollar that they will overachieve, despite the circumstances. So life withoutKawhi Leonardmay not be so bad in the Alamo City.
But any way, let’s talk about one of the most important late-season re-acquisitions to date and that would be of oneDanuel House. He’s back in the fold and he has pretty much picked up right where he left off.
House is the epitome of the definition of a two-way player, proving potent, right-on-time offense on one end and hard-nosed, bone-crunching defense on the other end. Did you see the block — or non-block according to the refs — that House made against the Phoenix Suns the other night?
He chased his defender down and was able to get a piece of the lay-in late in the game. The game was close throughout and one can make a case that House’s play was one of a few that sealed the HoustonRockets‘ fate of beating the Suns 108-102.
I have to admire House for ability to stick to his principles. He refused to have the Houston
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Rocketslock him into a long-term deal and he wanted his contract converted for the rest of the season so that he could become a restricted free agent this summer. That will now happen because quite honestly, both parties need each other. He was flourishing, yet languishing in the G League because his talents could be used so much more at the NBA-level.
Now from a business standpoint, it was likely cheaper for the HoustonRocketsto wait this long to convert because the season is almost over so both sides got what they wanted for the most part.
And now we’re getting a heavy-dose of what we’d been missing for the past two months since the NBA portion of his two-way contract ended.
House had been averaging 20.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists through 18 games with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers this season.
In his two games back with the HoustonRockets, House has been averaging 16.0 points and 5.0 rebounds with a shooting line of .689/.584/.750 in 31.5 minutes per game.
That’s amazing and he truly picked up right where he left off. The type of contributions that House is making will be pivotal in this team’s quest for a championship. It gives opponents another player that’s going to give them trouble within their defensive schemes outside ofJames Harden,Chris Paul,Eric Gordon,Clint CapelaandP.J. Tuckerto name a few.
Who knows if the HoustonRocketswill be able to keep House after this season but let’s just enjoy what this guy brings to team for the moment.
And for that, I’m certainly grateful. Welcome back D-House!
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