- If it hadn’t already been said enough, this team is scary deep. The second unit looked even more effective than the first, in spots.
- Hill looked much better in his first outing since I posited that Jeffries might be a superior option. I think ultimately, Adelman will opt to play the backup-backup role by matchup, using Hill against the Golden States of the world, and giving Jeffries the call in slugfests when key stops are vital. Or maybe not? We’ve seen young players explode in meaningless exhibitions, only to be buried on the bench when the games count. Maybe Jeffries is entrenched? There’s something to being able to trust a player that brings extreme comfort to a coach. To that end, Jeffries would have a serious upper hand.
- Brad Miller looked very impressive, operating from the high post, showing glimpses of what this team has never had. He connected with Chase Budinger on one occasion for a vicious slam. As one reader noted, he also is slower than Yao, a dubious honor not thought previously to be possible.
- Interesting that the Rockets essentially have two distinct backcourts with the starters an explosive but somewhat unimposing pair and the Lee-Lowry combo possibly the most gritty backup duo in the league. Might the two sets be better split up or are extremes of style preferable to balance (ie: we’ll gun you to death in the 1st then strangle you in the 2nd)…?
- Lee is a gunner, possibly by design. The young guard has a beautiful release and extremely explosive lift on the shot. I did not realize the mid-range jumpshot was such a big part of his game.
- Jermaine Taylor looked very impressive in the few minutes he played, confidently splashing a few open jumpers. Unfortunately for JT, he probably won’t see the light of day once the games count. A pity because I liked what I saw from him last season.
- The real subject of my interest was Ish Smith upon whom I had been focusing. I came away extremely impressed. It’s not hyperbole to say that he is already a better floor general than Aaron Brooks. I grabbed the video above myself, thus the muted audio; I’m still experiencing the same technical difficulties that ruined my summer league clips. In any event, we see some of what Ish brings to the table. In the first sequence, he splits the defense and attacks the basket with an acrobatic attempt, drawing the foul. In the second slide, Ish rolls over the screen and smoothly knows down the jumper. Lastly, we see him spot an open Chase Budinger in transition. I’m intrigued by what he can do if paired with Budinger in the second unit – the two are perfectly equipped for the transition game. If Ish can become consistent with that mid-range jumper, he could be a player. But from all accounts, consistency on that shot is quite a ways away. After that, at initial glance, Ish seems to have all the other tools that would suffice for at least a backup.
- Does Ish Smith make Aaron Brooks expendable? Let’s not get carried away. At the moment, in his ability to create for himself off the dribble, Brooks has a skill unique on this team and requisite to any hopes of postseason success. The Rockets won’t look to trade Aaron Brooks just because of Ish Smith. But if a player becomes available at some point that can provide some of the same stuff they would lose in trading Aaron, management at least would feel more comfortable about pulling the trigger if Smith continues his impressive play.
Postgame thoughts on the Rockets vs. Spurs
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