Houston Rockets: Predicting the team’s leader in every statistical category

Alperen Sengun will lead the Houston Rockets in blocks.

This was yet another area that Wood led in last season (one per game, there’s a reason he is a highly coveted player), and where a hole will now need to be filled. Smith Jr. will certainly be in with a shout, as he averaged around a block per game in college and will be in positions away from the paint where he can chase down and shut out shooters.

But this also means Sengun will have to spend more time in the paint out of necessity, and so will be in prime position to attempt to alter shots from opponents. This is sure to lead to more blocks, and it is why he gets the slight nod here, despite the fact that Smith Jr. could come out of the traps on fire and take this category and the best rebounding number as well.

One other player worth mentioning is Jae’Sean Tate. He had a nice little sophomore year, and himself averaged 5.4 rebounds and 0.7 blocks per game. He is a player that more hardcore fans love, as well as many of the prominent media members who cover the league. There is a reason for that, and it revolves around his motor, attitude to defending and tenacious desire to stop opponents.

This won’t translate into simply leading the franchise in blocks, but the Rockets will need some guys to play up positions as part of certain rotations. They also need a defensive enforcer to patrol the areas around their big men. Like what P.J. Tucker once was when the organization were contenders.

Even if Tate pushes Sengun, this is still his category to dominate. He could do with putting on some bulk, but he’s not exactly Chet Holmgren. He has a year of professional play, as well as a major European tournament under his belt already.

He is only going to get better, and in leading the Rockets in two out of the five major statistical categories, Sengun is well on his way.