Specifically, they like to run the action through ball handlers -- accounting for 22. 9 percent of possessions -- with Young and Murray as the go-to practitioners. Atlanta scores an average of 0. 84 points per possession on PnRs through ball handlers, in the 41st percentile. Houston’s defense allows 0. 94 points per possession on those plays and rates in the 17th percentile. Share the love Porter, the Rockets’ assists leader at 5. 8 per game, dished out another on Wednesday when he returned to the facility after practice to share two boxes of donuts from his favorite place in southwest Houston. On the court, Porter’s generosity has manifested in him leading Houston in assists in 12 of his 16 games played this season, including five of his last six.
And Alpe has been doing a good job making his (shots). Especially Usman, who's shooting the ball really, really well. ” In the season opener against the Hawks, Fernando shot 3-of-3 with seven points, nine rebounds and a career-high seven assists in 25 minutes. Sengun scored 15 points with nine rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench. Backcourt battle The last time the Rockets played the Hawks marked the debut of Atlanta’s newly formed backcourt tandem of Trae Young and Dejounte Murray, who was traded from San Antonio during the offseason. While beating Houston, Young (23 points, 13 assists) and Murray (20 points, 11 assists) became the first pair of teammates in NBA history to dish out 10+ assists in their first game together.
Houston Rockets vs Atlanta Hawks NBA opener: How to watch, stream and listenThe Houston Rockets kick off their season against the Atlanta Hawks on the road on Wednesday night. In 2021-22, these teams split their season series at a game a piece. Still, it’s fair to say that the Rockets will be underdogs heading into this contest. With that said, if the Hawks struggle, it may be due to their newly assembled backcourt.
Adding Dejounte Murray alongside Trae Young gives the Hawks one of the more purely talented backcourts in the NBA, but the two haven't played so much as a regular season game together. By contrast, the Rockets’ starting backcourt of Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green have a bond so close that it appears brotherly. With Porter Jr. having just been rewarded with a uniquely structured contract extension, it will be interesting to see if he comes out of the gate eager to prove that he’s going to earn that non-guaranteed money. Otherwise, Rockets fans will keep a close eye on Alperen Sengun. Recently, there’s been speculation that he could be moved to the second unit in favor of the more traditional rim-running Bruno Fernando.
Silas said the Rockets will consider playing Garuba at power forward next to either Sengun or Fernando, the latter of whom said playing alongside another big won’t fundamentally change his role on the court. “We're going to be able to work with each other, ” Fernando said. “Alpe does a good job setting screens and popping. And for me to be able to be another big that's out there on the court that sets the screen and rolls to the rim and brings the different scene, you know, that's going to open up a lot more space for our shooters on the court.
He is averaging 7. 0 assists over his past six games played after averaging 5. 1 the first 10 games of the season. The Rockets as a team, however, rank 27th in the NBA in assists per game (21. 5), 26th in assist percentage (56) and last in assist ratio (15. 4). Finish strong Unsurprisingly given that they have only three wins, Rockets have not played a game this season where they led the entire time, though getting leads has not been as big a problem as sustaining leads late. The Rockets are 3-3 when leading after three quarters of play this season and 0-11 when tied or trailing. In the fourth quarter, opponents are outscoring Houston by 3.
… I just feel like (talking) keeps me involved with the game. It keeps me feeling like I'm still in the game and playing. ” Rockets coach Stephen Silas said Fernando will likely play in one game of a back-to-back this weekend at Toyota Center, either Friday against the Hawks or Saturday against the Thunder. Among the handful of Rockets players who were limited by soreness in Tuesday’s practice, only guard Eric Gordon returned to being a full participant on Wednesday in the team’s last pre-Thanksgiving practice. Guards Jalen Green and Josh Christopher were limited. Center Alperen Sengun did not practice.
Going into the Hawks’ game against the Kings on Wednesday, Young and Murray are the only pair of teammates to be ranked top 10 in total assists this season. They are also the first pair of teammates in NBA history to have at least 200 points and 100 assists each through the first 13 games of a season, per Elias Sports. Through 17 games, Atlanta’s backcourt of Young and Murray averaged a combined 47.
7 points and 16. 8 assists per game, with the most total assists (276) of any duo in the NBA. Young did not play in one game due to injury. Houston’s starting backcourt of Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green averages 40. 8 points and 9. 3 assists, with Porter missing one game due to injury. Pick-and-roll diet The Hawks live off the pick-and-roll, and rank first in the NBA in pick-and-roll play type frequency according to the league’s tracking data.
Hawks vs Rockets Prediction, Odds, Lines, Team Props - NBA
Rockets vs. Hawks - NBA Game Summary - October 19, 2022
The Rockets opened the season against the Hawks on Oct. 19 with a 117-107 loss in Atlanta, one of two games Fernando played in before his injury. Since then, the Rockets are 3-13 and the Hawks are 10-6. Atlanta has won four of the past five meetings with Houston. On Friday, the Hawks are looking to sweep the season series for the fifth time over the past nine dating back to 2014-15. Five things to watch in tonight's game: The Bruno effect? If Fernando does play against the Hawks, it will present rotation decisions for the Rockets. Fernando started the first two games of the season at center with Sengun coming off the bench. Since then, Sengun has been the starter with Garuba spelling him in a high-energy second unit.
Rockets vs. Hawks: What to watch in Friday's gameStanding at 6-foot-9 with an equally outsized personality, Bruno Fernando is hard to miss. Even while he’s sat out the Rockets’ last 15 games with left knee tendonitis, the center has been a vocal presence on the bench during games and practices, particularly when it comes to encouraging second-year big men Alperen Sengun and Usman Garuba. “Yeah, I talk too much, ” Fernando said Wednesday after completing his second full practice since the injury. “I think sometimes I got to slow down. But you know, I care about the game. I love the game, and more than that I care about the people that I'm around. I care about guys like Us (Garuba) and seeing his success.
Atlanta Hawks vs. Houston Rockets - Winners and Whiners