If the 18 points and 14 rebounds in the last game against the Spurs were not enough to make people remember the name of Tari Ethan, then the Rockets vs. Grizzlies, Eason once again hit 25 points and 14 rebounds, which can definitely be described as amazing. The 25 points also refreshed Ethan's single-game high.
It should be said that even the data of 25+14 cannot completely hide Ethan's contribution. According to the data,When Eason was on the floor, the Rockets had a net efficiency of 17 per 100 possessions2。And, he's 94 percent defensive efficiency this season5. Ranked first among all players who played more than 15 minutes per game.
To sum up, Rocket picked up a big baby. Yes, this previously unknown big boy, who is only the 17th pick in 2022, is not many in Ethan's current state to be selected in front of him and win him steadily. Banchero and Holmgren are talented, Jalen Williams, Mark Williams, and Duren are not bad, including Jabari Smith, who was selected by the Rockets with the third pick, and his future development may not be stronger than Ethan.
To be honest, the Rockets were able to pick up Eason with the 17th pick, and there was indeed an element of luck. In the draft that year, Ethan was criticized for not having a high ball quotient, but he was impressed when he was not a year. Ethan, who was just a decent last season, has now become the absolute firepower of the Rockets' bench. Is there a possibility that, soon, Ethan will not be visible on the Rockets' bench?
The individual defense is excellent, and his sense of pressure on the ball carrier is even reminiscent of Kawaii Leonard. And the offense is constantly being developed, and this season, Ethan is averaging close to one three-pointer per game and shooting 41 percent from the field9%。So if he develops his ability to hold the ball in the future, won't he become a kawaii ** person?By the way, Leonard's draft pick is 15th, which is about the same as Ethan.
So, is the future core of the rocket already in the formation?Although the team has not done a very good job in terms of high picks, such as Jalen Green, it is likely that he is just an ordinary starter-level player, and Jabari does not have the potential to become an absolute star at present. However, in some first-round mid-to-late or second-round drafts, the Rockets did an extremely good job. In addition to Eason, Alperen Shenjing, who is also the 16th pick, has now become a Jokic Jr. existence. In time, it is not ruled out that he will become the league's top playmaker center.
In addition, like Capela, who was the 25th pick in 2014, and Brooks, who was the 26th pick in 2007, also played far better than the draft pick. Chandler Parsons, a 2011 second-round pick, was simply the best example of a base salary when he played for the Rockets. Don't underestimate this hidden skill of the rocket, spend a small amount of money to do big things, this is the ability to survive in the alliance for a long time.
If the frontcourt combination of Shin Kyung + Eason can play, it will soon be possible for the Rockets to return to the ranks of the top teams. In addition, they have enough money to sign another big name.
So, if Houston hadn't chased Brunson instead of Van Jordan in the offseason, what would have become of it now?