The Rockets refused to renew three interior players — veteran center Marianovic, interior shooter Kaminsky, and center Willie Kaulistan, who spent most of last season in the Development League. And the Rockets also sent defensive power forwards like Garuba to the Hawks, and then the Hawks traded Garuba to the Thunder, so that the Rockets' interior line was slightly empty.
Although the Rockets signed Randale with a 4-year, $32 million contract, it has to be said that Randale can indeed fight and grab, but he is not a traditional basket-guarding center.
The Rockets need to find a "bodyguard" next to Shenjing to support the Rockets' interior defense when Shenjing is off the break, after all, Coach Uduka attaches great importance to defense, and without a qualified defensive center, it will be difficult for the Rockets to achieve good results next season.
At present, although the Rockets' center position already has Shenjing and Landale, and Smith can also play as a guest center, it has to be said that the Rockets' interior rebounds and blocks are still lacking.
However, judging from the first game of the summer league, it seems that the Rockets are no longer signing new centers, and the inside basket protection problem seems to have been solved. Why? Take a look at the statistics of this game, each of the 3 players of the Rockets gave away 4 blocks! point guard Amen Thompson not only had 16 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals, but also had 4 blocks; Small forward Tarry Ethan also recorded a double-double of 20 points + 10 rebounds, as well as four blocks.
And Rockets 25-year-old center Jay Huff, the fringe center of the NBA, seems to have found a feel in the summer league, although he only scored 5 points and 5 rebounds in 20 minutes, but also gave 4 blocks in 20 minutes! The former NBA Development League Defensive Player of the Year is truly worthy of his defensive ability!
More importantly, the Rockets' 3 players each sent 4 blocks, but covered 3 positions - Thompson at the guard, Eason on the front, and Huff on the inside, that is, even if the Rockets do not introduce basket-type interior linemen and blockers, with the talent and physical condition of these players at present, the Rockets' interior line next season should be worry-free. It can even form an "inside no-fly zone" to make all opposing players who want to score under the Rockets' basket and catch in the air without success.
The Rockets' new roster players are all good height, Shen Jing is taller, Smith is also a full-size power forward, Ethan also has outstanding rebounding and blocking ability in the small forward position, Jaylen Green is also a sporty "spring man", the blocking ability is underestimated, and most importantly, the Rockets' rookie Amen Thompson, although the long-range shooting ability is not too strong, but he sent 4 blocks for the Rockets' debut, excellent height and bounce ability, so that Amen Thompson is comfortable on the defensive end, It is even possible to make cameo appearances in small forward positions.
With these "block masters" in various positions, even if the Rockets stop playing and do not introduce new centers, interior defense, rebounding and blocking are no longer shortcomings, and the ability to protect the basket from last season's disadvantage directly due to the addition of several players and the growth of young players has become the advantage of the Rockets.