The Rockets suffered two straight defeats, and while the score was not too impressive, it was an unacceptable loss. The first was the game against the Cavaliers, who lost by five points after an overtime game, and the Cavaliers totaled a staggering 135 points in the entire game. Next, they faced the Hawks at home, only to be bombarded by 134 points, which is also the most points they have conceded in a home game this season. It's disappointing. After all, under Udoka's guidance, the Rockets have improved tremendously this season.
They have come a long way in terms of tactical discipline compared to last season. Last season, the team was left to the free roof of its players, and although they performed well offensively, they couldn't do anything on the defensive end, which was the root cause of the Rockets' losing streak. But now, the Rockets' overall performance is much better than last season, with a win rate of more than 50%. Despite the defeat they have suffered in their last three matches, the overall performance is still much stronger than last season.
However, in the last two games, the Rockets have suddenly become unassertive on the defensive end, and both Alperen on the inside and Jalen Green on the outside have been dysfunctional on the defensive end. To make matters worse, they received bad news ahead of the game against the Hawks: their defensive forward Tari Eason was out injured.
Without Ethan, the Rockets not only lost a bench forward who averaged nearly 10 points per game, but more importantly, Tari Eason's defense was the best on the Rockets' interior, and without his protection, the Rockets' defensive performance in this game can be imagined. Although Tari Eason is usually only a substitute player, he is undoubtedly one of the most crucial figures in the team from the perspective of this game.
Tari Eason, who can play both offense and defense, plays a crucial role in the Rockets' playbook, more important than the core of the class of 2021, Jalen Green and Shin Jing. The Rockets' defense has obvious problems, and the only solution lies in Udoka's adjusted tactics. He must improve the team's defensive tactics as soon as possible, especially in terms of changing defenses, strengthen Shin Jing's defensive awareness, and urge his players to give it their all. At the same time, in order to improve offensive efficiency, it is also necessary to focus more on defense.
But Shin Kyung's interior speed is too slow, and if he can't change the defense in time, Udoka should reduce his playing time. At key moments in the fourth quarter, Udoka could have Jabari Smith Jr. and Jeff Green form an interior line to strengthen the Rockets' defense. Luckily, Ethan's injury isn't serious, and the Rockets' defense should improve when he returns. However, just one Eason is not enough, and improving the defensive capabilities of Jalen Green and Shin Jing will help the Rockets win more games in the future.