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Houston Rockets: 3 takeaways from March

By Gavriel Wilkins

ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 19: Chris Paul #3 of the Houston Rockets handles the ball against the Atlanta Hawks on March 19, 2019 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 19: Chris Paul #3 of the Houston Rockets handles the ball against the Atlanta Hawks on March 19, 2019 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images
Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images /

3. Defense has improved

Despite coming into the year without the likes of defensive stalwarts Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute, the Rockets’ defense has shown what a difference two halves can make, as the unit that once displayed signs of a catastrophic drop-off has come together to help revitalize this surge back to the top.

Houston stood near the bottom of the league in defensive rating after 57 games, but has posted the second-best defensive rating in the NBA following the All-Star break, allowing 105.6 points per 100 possessions after giving up 112.2 points per 100 possessions prior to the league’s annual showcase.

"“We just keep hammering it home,” Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni told reporters when asked about the overall importance of Houston’s defensive principles this week. “Jeff [Bzdelik] is doing a great job bringing attention to it, players are buying in to how important it is. It carries to the playoffs. Where we are in the standings, we can’t afford to lose.” “We talk about it all the time because it was ridiculous [where] we were [25th]…We made a conscious effort of making a run to get those numbers up…I think we should be very good going into the playoffs.”"

https://twitter.com/HoustonRockets/status/1112139826218893314

Although the majority of national spectators have come to know Houston for possessing one of the game’s most potent offenses led by James Harden and Chris Paul, one could argue that the franchise’s recent success has proven contrary to the general narrative.

During the month of March, the Rockets finished within the top five or better among all teams in deflections, steals, points off turnovers and opponent field goal percentage, while managing to hold the likes of the Denver Nuggets, Toronto Raptors, Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics under 100 points within that time span.

"“If we play defense like that, we can win a title,” Rockets guard Austin Rivers told ESPN’s Royce Young after Houston held Denver to a season-low 85 points last week. “That’s what we believe around here.”"

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