Tag: Aric Holman

Player grades, statistics: How Rockets fared at 2022 NBA summer league

With rookies Tari Eason (A) and Jabari Smith Jr. (B+) leading the way, here’s our look back at what we learned about the Rockets during 2022 NBA summer league action.

With the NBA’s 2022 summer league officially in the books, we’re taking a look back at the performances of the young Houston Rockets.

The Rockets went 2-3 in Las Vegas, though it should be noted that they were 2-1 with a complete roster. They finished 0-2 after shutting down leading scorer Josh Christopher (right hip soreness) midway through.

Shooting struggles were a recurring issue. Of Houston’s nine rotation players, only two — Tari Eason and Daishen Nix — shot over 40% from the field. Nix was the only player to break 35% on 3-pointers.

Yet, the Rockets were still competitive throughout summer league play thanks in large part to their defense, which was spearheaded by the rookie duo of Eason and Jabari Smith Jr. in the frontcourt. Houston had hoped going in to also have second-year forward Usman Garuba as a defensive anchor, but he was unable to play due to injury.

Scroll on for 2022 summer league statistics, player grades, highlights, and key takeaways involving Houston’s nine consistent rotation players in Las Vegas: Christopher, Eason, Nix, Smith, TyTy Washington, Anthony Lamb, Trevor Hudgins, Trhae Mitchell, and Aric Holman. Grades are relative to realistic expectations for each player going in.

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Takeaways: In defensive battle, Jabari Smith Jr. rallies Rockets past Chet Holmgren, Thunder

Jabari Smith Jr. and Chet Holmgren had similar games Saturday, with each defending well while struggling to finish on offense. But Smith made more key plays late, leading to Houston’s win.

Saturday’s summer league showdown between the Rockets and Thunder featured a clash of two of the top-three rookies in the NBA’s 2022 draft class: Houston’s Jabari Smith Jr. and Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren.

Both prospects struggled to finish on offense, with Smith and Holmgren scoring 12 points apiece on 26.6% and 30.0% shooting, respectively. But each made a clear mark on defense, with Holmgren recording 8 rebounds and 4 blocks while Smith had 9 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 blocks — with the latter two categories leading the summer Rockets.

Most notably, Smith saved his best for last. The Auburn product drilled a 3-pointer and a turnaround jumper in the final five minutes to put the Rockets back in front, and he collected a steal and a crucial late stop as Houston held on for a 90-88 win (box score). The final stop was massive, since Smith defended without fouling and used his length to force talented second-year guard Josh Giddey into a miss as time expired.

Smith wasn’t the only impressive rookie. Tari Eason had an efficient night with 14 points and 11 rebounds on 5-of-10 shooting (50.0%), while TyTy Washington added 9 points in 22 minutes off the bench — including a floater with under 30 seconds left that put Houston ahead to stay.

Second-year guards Josh Christopher and Daishen Nix led the Rockets in scoring with 19 and 16 points, respectively. Christopher added 9 rebounds and 5 assists, while Nix dished out a team-high 6 dimes.

Our Brian Barefield is on the scene in Las Vegas and will have more postgame content on Sunday, which is when the Rockets will practice as they gear up for their next summer league game on Monday versus San Antonio (schedule). For now, here’s a look at Saturday’s highlights and immediate reaction by players, coaches, media members, and fans.

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With Usman Garuba out, Aric Holman ready for opportunity with summer Rockets

With Usman Garuba out injured, Aric Holman wants to take advantage of an opportunity in Las Vegas. “I want to get a contract with somebody, hopefully it’s here in Houston,” @AricHolman says.

LAS VEGAS — One of the goals of summer league is to get rookies and other young players acclimated to playing in the NBA by learning the rules, game speed, and beyond. It is also a time for free agents to showcase their talents with hopes of being invited to a team’s training camp and eventually making a regular-season roster.

That last goal is precisely what 6-foot-9 forward Aric Holman, who played for San Antonio’s G League affiliate last season, wants to achieve when he gets opportunities to play over the next two weeks.

Holman is currently part of the Rockets’ summer league team, where he is playing alongside talents like second-year player Josh Christopher and rookies Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, and TyTy Washington.

With forward Usman Garuba out with an ankle injury that is likely to cause him to miss the entire summer league, Holman is using this opportunity to display some of the talents he possesses to show the Rockets and the rest of the NBA that he is ready to compete for a roster spot.

“I want to get a contract with somebody, hopefully it’s here in Houston,” Holman said. “I just take it one day at a time. Just winning the day. Not thinking about game three, four, or five. Just winning that next game.”

Holman, who went undrafted in the 2019 NBA draft out of Mississippi State, was very productive in Thursday’s summer league opener versus Orlando. He checked into the game late in the third quarter and immediately made an impact with two huge blocks in under one minute. Holman finished with 8 points in 14 minutes (box score) and showed potential as a stretch big, making 2-of-4 from 3-point range (50.0%).

That type of energy and production off the bench impressed Rockets summer league head coach Rick Higgins.

“He had one look that went terrible in the first half, but he came out in the second half with nothing but confidence, attention to detail, and energy,” said coach Higgins. “It helped our group immensely.”

When it comes to potentially earning a contract — keep in mind, Houston is reportedly looking for another backup big this offseason — Holman believes he brings intangibles that could help the Rockets be successful as they progress through their rebuild. Among his comments:

I am a very high IQ guy, so I just bring that to the floor. I communicate and make people better around me, and then I just take what is given to me. I don’t reach out for the extras; I just take what is given to me and help my team win.

“This is a great organization — a great coaching staff, great players all around,” Holman concluded. “As everyone starts to buy in, this is going to be a great organization.”

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