Through two preseason games, Ime Udoka’s Rockets showing defensive growth

Preseason results should be taken with a grain of salt since most teams aren’t committed to the extent they would be in a regular-season NBA game. Yet, for a young and rebuilding club such as the 2023-24 Houston Rockets, the results seem to reflect superior effort.

Through two exhibition games, the Rockets are 2-0, and their defensive rating of 91.3 ranks second in the league. Houston is ranked second in steals (14), fifth in defensive rebounds (41), and first in fewest paint points allowed (33) per game.

Houston’s offensive rating (115.2) ranks fourth overall and the net rating (23.9) comes in second. Yet, for a team loaded with potentially strong scorers and playmakers such as Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson, it’s the growth on defense that appears most noteworthy.

“I love our attention to detail,” head coach Ime Udoka said Thursday, per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. “Our guys were scrambling, covering for each other, playing extremely hard.”

For Fred VanVleet, who was signed this offseason as an influential veteran alongside other proven commodities such as Dillon Brooks and Jeff Green, the key in Houston’s switch-heavy scheme is playing together.

“For the young guys, I think there’s a lot of new coverages and schemes and an identity we’re trying to put out there,” VanVleet said after defeating the Pelicans, per Feigen. “But it’s contagious. Everybody is trying. Nobody wants to be the weak link. If we’re able to keep that togetherness, we’ll be a good defensive team this year.”

Houston will look to keep its defensive momentum rolling when preseason play continues Monday night in San Antonio.

Rockets insider: Defense finding identity early in preseason https://t.co/HBxCz79Gfl

— Houston Chronicle (@HoustonChron) October 13, 2023