During his first season with Houston in 2020-21, athletic big man Christian Wood played mostly at center. But the Rockets were pleasantly surprised by Wood’s positional versatility when he lined up next to Kelly Olynyk after the trade deadline, and it appears that arrangement will continue in 2021-22 next to defensive anchor Daniel Theis.
In comments after Thursday’s training camp practice, Wood told reporters that he expects to play more power forward in the upcoming season, adding that the early returns alongside Theis are promising.
It’s good, we’ve been playing together. He’s great on the defensive end, so I can see… how we can play together. We’ve been switching on ball screens, and stuff like that. He’s been guarding one through five, just the same as me. It’s good to have a guy like that.
I think it’s between me and DT (Daniel Theis), that’s going to have the most years (of experience) in our starting lineup.
Christian Wood said he’ll be playing more of the 4 this year.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIkoNBA) September 30, 2021
Wood averaged 21.0 points (51.4% FG, 37.4% on 3-pointers) and 9.6 rebounds in 32.3 minutes per game last season, and the 27-year-old hopes to build on those numbers this year — now that he’s completely healthy and no longer dealing with a nagging ankle injury. Wood says he gained approximately 10 pounds in the offseason to weigh in at about 230 overall, which should give him more power and strength.
If Wood and Theis start at power forward and center, respectively, and Houston’s backcourt consists of Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green — as everyone expects, assuming health — the final starting slot for Stephen Silas would likely go to Jae’Sean Tate or Eric Gordon.
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