Hoops Habit
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TJ Warren and 4 other players making a name for themselves in Orlando

By Dalton Sell

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 04: T.J. Warren #1 of the Indiana Pacers controls the ball against the Orlando Magic during the second half at Visa Athletic Center at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 4, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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. (Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 04: T.J. Warren #1 of the Indiana Pacers controls the ball against the Orlando Magic during the second half at Visa Athletic Center at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 4, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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. (Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images) /
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Danuel House Jr. (Houston Rockets)

The small-ball Houston Rockets were gearing up to make some noise ahead of the NBA’s restart and came out of the gates firing. Aside from James Harden and Russell Westbrook, one player that stepped up significantly is Danuel House Jr., the 26-year-old forward.

After playing as Houston’s starting forward for most of the season, Rockets’ head coach Mike D’Antoni elected to remove House from the lineup in favor of former Sixth Man of the Year Eric Gordon. House was not having a bad season, but D’Antoni made the decision because “He’s not as good as the other five guys.”

light. Related Story. Harden and Westbrook, the NBA's best duo

However, this lineup swap did not last long as Gordon rolled his ankle in the team’s final scrimmage, sliding House back into the starting lineup. It seems that House took D’Antoni’s words personal, as he came out with something to prove in the Rocket’s first three games of the restart.

In Houston’s 2-1 start, House averaged 17.7 points per game on 48.9 percent field goal shooting and a stellar 46.7 percent shooting from 3-point territory. For a player that is averaging just 10.6 points per game on the season, House’s fantastic play has been a significant bonus for the Rockets.

Playing alongside two former MVPs in Harden and Westbrook, House will continue to fly under the radar, but he has undoubtedly taken his game to the next level thus far. It seems that coach D’Antoni’s comments flipped a switch for House as he played top-tier basketball since then.