Houston Rockets: 5 predictions for 2018-19 NBA season
By Simon Smith
5. Rockets average at least 45 attempts from 3-point range
Since head coach Mike D’Antoni took over at helm in the summer of 2016, the Rockets have taken the use of the 3-ball to levels previously considered unthinkable.
In the season prior to D’Antoni’s arrival, the Rockets averaged 30.9 attempts per game from long range. Last season, they launched 42.3 times a night from deep, comfortably ahead of the second-ranked Brooklyn Nets at 35.3 per game.
When you match the offensive wizardry of D’Antoni, the mindset of Morey and the collection of players the Rockets have assembled, its little wonder they have been able to exceed all previous 3-point records.
Last season, the Rockets had 34 games in which they attempted at least 45 long balls, including 12 games of at least 50 from deep. Not surprisingly, not only did the Rockets post a 29-5 record over this span of games, only two other teams (the Nets and the Boston Celtics) recorded games of at least 50 3-point attempts.
Houston Rockets just broke the NBA record for fewest 2-pointers in a game (28). Won by 16. New era.
— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) October 28, 2017
The main downside to launching such an extreme amount of long balls is when they don’t fall, like Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals when the Rockets missed an otherworldly 27 in a row, hitting just 7-of-44 overall for the game.
Granted, Houston is going to have to overcome the loss of Trevor Ariza and Ryan Anderson. Last season, Ariza ranked fourth on the team with 6.9 attempts per game, while Anderson averaged 5.1 per game.
However, their absence seems to have had little impact thus far, having averaged 46.3 attempts per game through their first three preseason games, including 53 against the San Antonio Spurs.