Houston Rockets guard Victor Oladipo (7) is excited to high-five teammate John Wall (1) after winning the NBA game against the Washington Wizards Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021, at Toyota Center in Houston. Houston Rockets defeated Washington Wizards 107-88.
Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographerThe Rockets’ pace has improved markedly in the weeks since the James Harden trade, a priority Rockets coach Stephen Silas had for this season and especially since the trade. He wants the Rockets to play faster, still.
In the first eight games since the trade, the Rockets have ranked fifth in pace, and that is with John Wall missing five games in that stretch and Victor Oladipo either unavailable or sitting out for three others. Prior to the trade, the Rockets ranked 16th in pace.
Some of the change has come from the defense improving, leading to more steals and fast breaks. The Rockets were 22nd in the league in defensive rating prior to the trade and going into Saturday’s game against the Pelicans, ranked third since. But playing faster has been a point of emphasis, especially on Saturday going into a game against the larger Pelicans.
“It’s important, definitely important,” Silas said. “We want to use our defense to create offensive, first and foremost. Secondly, I think our guys can play to our strengths best when we’re playing faster and there’s gaps to attack and you’re not playing against a set defense and Christian (Wood) is trailing with a five man trying to decide whether he is going to stay up with Christian or be all the way back.
“Our pace is something we talked about quite a bit and that’s one of the things that I wrote on the board today as far as getting the ball up the floor quickly so we are not having to play against a set defense and we don’t have to run set plays.”
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January 31, 2021 at 07:37AM
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Rockets playing faster, but still working to pick up the pace - Houston Chronicle
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