Houston Rockets: Are The Rockets Boring?
Fandom, in every single sport, is usually driven by the unknown. The thin line that keeps things from succeeding or failing, is what typically keeps fans on their seats. Why would you watch something if you knew exactly its “whats” and “hows”?
You wouldn’t.
The Houston Rockets (9-3), have won, most of their games, by avoiding high-risk plays and low-percentage shots.
Throughout the season, 45.3 percent (345 out of 761 total field goal attempts) of the Rockets’ field-goals have come from less than 10 feet from the basket. They are making 53.3 percent of their shots from the previous range. This means that, in any given game, the Rockets are scoring roughly 36.8 points from inside 10 feet.
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Also, the Rockets are averaging, mainly because of James Harden and Dwight Howard, 29.3 free-throw attempts per game. They make 69.6 percent of their free throws, roughly 20.4 points from the line.
Therefore, the Rockets are scoring 56.8 points per game, out of their 97.8 average (58 percent of their points), in the most boring and most effective way possible.
Once we go deeper into a less-efficient shot, the 3-pointer, the Rockets are making about 12 3s per game. This means that, if no 3s become four-point plays for the Rockets, they are scoring another 36 points PER GAME from beyond-the-arc.
This means that in any given game, the Rockets are scoring a jaw-dropping 92.8 points per game (94 percent of their points) from: (1) inside 10 feet, 36.8 points; (2) beyond the arc, 36; and (3) free-throw line, 20.
As you can see, the Rockets have attempted much fewer long 2s than effective shots.
What does this mean for the Rockets? Day in and day out, they are turning into one of the most excruciating and boring teams to watch around the NBA.
Is this bad? Not at all. Avoiding risk and low-percentage shots is a great way to coast and win games around the league. With the Rockets’ current shot-selection, wasted possessions are almost out of the question and, with them, unforced mistakes and/or turnovers start ceasing to exist.
Boredom seems to be the reason of why the Rockets have been lifted into Western Conference contention so quickly, nevertheless, they are still having troubles keeping their guys on the floor.
There’s still no need to worry about the Rockets and, even though they seem to have hit a rough-patch for the last two games, it probably was because of Dwight Howard’s and Terrence Jones‘ absence. Nevertheless, it would be smart for the Rockets to get back on track to start building again on what they have for the first ten-games of the season.
In a struggling Western Conference, the Rockets’ title-window opened a little bit, but it remains to be seen whether they are mentally and physically strong enough to take advantage of it.