Tag: Armoni Brooks

Stephen Silas proud of development shown by Rockets’ rookies

After Sunday’s game, Silas singled out Jae’Sean Tate, KJ Martin, and Armoni Brooks as among the standouts when it comes to development.

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At 17-55, the Houston Rockets finished the 2020-21 regular season with the NBA’s worst record. It’s the first time that has happened for the franchise in nearly 40 years (1982-83).

Yet, head coach Stephen Silas still sees plenty of reasons for optimism entering the 2021 offseason. For starters, the record was largely a product of a forced early season trade by superstar guard James Harden coupled with an historic wave of injuries up and down the roster.

Adjusting for context, Houston found what general manager Rafael Stone has referred to as a “young core” of Christian Wood, Kevin Porter Jr., KJ Martin and Jae’Sean Tate — and many of those players improved as the season progressed. While Wood and Porter weren’t able to finish the season due to ankle injuries, Tate and Martin were on the court in Sunday’s finale at Atlanta, and Silas appreciated their contributions.

In a postgame interview, Silas was asked about the development shown by many of the roster’s younger players. He responded:

Before the game, I kind of went through every guy, and how they have surpassed what anybody thought about them. All the guys that we had in the locker room. Jae’Sean, he should be All-Rookie First Team, to me. He has done so much for this group, on and off the floor, as a rookie. He’s started a bunch of games, and guarded fives, and brought the ball up the floor. He does so many things.

KJ Martin, for me, he could be Most Improved Player. Because at the beginning of the season, I didn’t know if he was going to play at all. And he became someone that was making 3s, and playing good defense and doing a lot. For those guys, they should have confidence going into next season. I’ll make sure that they know… how well they really did.

And then Armoni (Brooks), I assume he still has the record for most 3s made in the first 20 games now of a person’s career. For him to do that, with all these guys who have played in the NBA, he’s the one who has the record. Yeah, I’m proud of those guys and the development that they’ve had.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lx1VEnPRHEU

Tate, Martin and Brooks surpassed what most viewed as reasonable expectations for them as rookies. Tate started 58 of 70 games played, with both figures the highest on the roster. He averaged 11.3 points (50.6% FG), 5.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 29.2 minutes per game, and he was also one of Houston’s best and most versatile defenders.

Martin averaged 9.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 23.7 minutes, and his 3-point stroke (36.5%) was far better than expected. Meanwhile, Brooks scored 11.2 points in 26.0 minutes per game, and he shot 38.2% from 3-point range — even on very high volume of 7.9 attempts per game.

Tate and Martin are under contract with the Rockets for two and three more seasons, respectively. Brooks is poised to become a restricted free agent this offseason. Assuming they can keep him, all three should be important parts of Houston’s supporting cast in the years ahead.

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Cam Oliver double-double leads Rockets in season-ending loss at Atlanta

Oliver had 10 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 blocks, but it wasn’t nearly enough for the short-handed Rockets versus the playoff-bound Hawks.

The severely short-handed Rockets played hard over the final weeks of the 2020-21 regular season, including Friday’s upset win over the Los Angeles Clippers, but they finally seemed to run out of steam in Sunday’s 124-95 loss (box score) at Atlanta. The Hawks (41-31) are headed to the playoffs as the East’s No. 5 seed, while Houston (17-55) ends the year with the NBA’s worst record for the first time since 1982-83.

DJ Augustin and Armoni Brooks led Houston with 18 points apiece, including four 3-pointers by Augustin and six by Brooks. Kelly Olynyk scored 16, while big man Cam Oliver had his first career double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. He also blocked three shots.

Atlanta had eight players in double figures, led by Onyeka Okongwu’s 21 points (76.9% FG) and 14 rebounds. All-Star guard Trae Young had 10 points, 9 assists, and 2 steals in limited playing time of 16 minutes.

Here’s a sampling of highlights, postgame reaction, and analysis from Sunday’s loss. The NBA’s play-in tournament for the 2021 playoffs will begin Tuesday, with the playoffs officially starting Saturday.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVkgdNVQjDQ

Kelly Olynyk, Jae’Sean Tate lead Rockets past Clippers in home finale

Olynyk and Tate each scored 20 at Toyota Center as the Rockets upset Los Angeles in the final game for legendary broadcaster Bill Worrell.

Kelly Olynyk (20 points, 11 assists, 9 rebounds) and Jae’Sean Tate (20 points, 3-of-5 on 3-pointers) led the Houston Rockets to a 122-115 win (box score) over the Los Angeles Clippers in Friday’s home finale at Toyota Center. Luke Kennard led the visitors with 23 points.

It was a balanced effort by the Rockets, who had seven players with 13 or more points. Besides Olynyk and Tate, other standouts included Khyri Thomas (17 points, 5 assists); Anthony Lamb (17 points, 3-of-5 3-pointers); Armoni Brooks (15 points, 3-of-7 3-pointers); KJ Martin (13 points, 9 rebounds); and DJ Augustin (13 points, 5 assists).

With the playoffs looming, the Clippers (47-24) didn’t play several of their regulars, including Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Pat Beverley. Nonetheless, for a squad like the Rockets (17-54) with the NBA’s worst record, it was a welcome opportunity to get a feel-good win — especially in the final career game for legendary broadcaster Bill Worrell.

Houston will finish out its 2020-21 season on Sunday at Atlanta, with tipoff scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Central. For now, here’s a selection of highlights, analysis, and postgame interviews from Friday night.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8971A4LmnBc

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Rockets open up roster spot by waiving DaQuan Jeffries

The open spot could be used to keep a player who is on a two-way contract or hardship exception, such as Armoni Brooks or Khyri Thomas.

The Houston Rockets announced Thursday that they have released guard/forward DaQuan Jeffries, who was claimed off waivers in April. Jeffries appeared in 13 games with three starts, averaging 4.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 20.1 minutes per game.

The move will open up a roster spot for general manager Rafael Stone, who has several possibilities for how to use it. They could use the spot to sign a two-way player to a multi-year deal, such as Armoni Brooks, or keep a player signed to a temporary hardship exception, such as Khyri Thomas. Another option would be signing an outside free agent.

Stone said recently that Houston plans to spend more of its 2020-21 mid-level exception (MLE), which could allow the Rockets to sign a young player like Brooks or Thomas to a deal of three or four years in length.

Brooks is averaging 10.6 points (38.6% on 3-pointers) and 3.4 rebounds in 25.1 minutes per game, while Thomas has averaged 16.3 points (43.6% FG), 5.0 assists, and 3.8 rebounds in 30.8 minutes per game. Brooks has played in 18 games, while Thomas has participated in the last four.

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Armoni Brooks scores career-high 24 as Lakers hold off pesky Rockets

Houston went on a 9-0 run in the final three minutes, but Kyle Kuzma connected on a driving layup with 6.9 seconds left to secure the win.

On the unveiling night of their 2019-20 championship banner, the defending champion Lakers had to survive in Wednesday’s 124-122 win (box score) over the visiting Rockets, who have the NBA’s worst record.

Rookie guard Armoni Brooks scored a career-high 24 points at Staples Center to lead the Rockets, who went on a late 9-0 run and briefly led until Kyle Kuzma’s runner in the final seconds sealed it for Los Angeles. Kuzma finished with 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists.

Talen Horton-Tucker (22 points, 10 assists) and Andre Drummond (20 points, 10 rebounds) led Los Angeles in scoring, while other standouts for Houston included Kelly Olynyk (24 points, 8 assists), KJ Martin (20 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks), and Cameron Oliver (17 points).

Though they were expected to play earlier in the day, superstars LeBron James (ankle) and Anthony Davis (groin) were late scratches. With the win, Los Angeles (40-30) stayed a game behind Portland and Dallas (41-29) in the race to avoid the Western Conference’s No. 7 seed — which would require winning a play-in tournament game to make the playoffs.

Houston (16-54) was missing 11 of the team’s 17 players under standard contracts: Christian Wood (right ankle), John Wall (right hamstring), Eric Gordon (right groin), Sterling Brown (head/face lacerations), Kevin Porter Jr. (left ankle), Avery Bradley (personal reasons), Dante Exum (left calf), Danuel House Jr. (right ankle), DaQuan Jeffries (right ankle), David Nwaba (right wrist) and D.J. Wilson (health and safety protocols). The Rockets, who have been ravaged by injuries throughout the 2020-21 season, reached the required number of eight active players with Oliver and Khyri Thomas — who are on hardship exceptions.

The Rockets return to play Friday with their regular-season home finale at Toyota Center against the Los Angeles Clippers. Tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m. Central. For now, here’s a roundup of postgame highlights, analysis, and reaction from Wednesday’s late game versus the Lakers.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2HMdJk9WCI

Rookie Wire Power Rankings: Anthony Edwards reigns supreme in final countdown

Rookie Wire takes a look at the top first-year players over the last two weeks of the 2020-21 season.

With less than a week to go in the regular season, playoff races around the league are heating up as teams look to stamp their tickets into the postseason.

Of course, other teams are already looking ahead to next season and have turned things over to their rookies and other young players. One thing is certain, these rookies haven’t given up on the season as many are playing some of their best basketball.

To make sense of it all, we took a look at the best recent performances of these first-year players and ranked them in the final edition of the Rookie Wire Power Rankings this season. The rankings are not for Rookie of the Year purposes but, rather, to illustrate the best players week to week.

Armoni Brooks sets early-career NBA record for made 3-pointers

With six made 3-pointers on Monday, Rockets guard Armoni Brooks has 47 in his first 17 NBA games. That tops Steph Curry for the most ever.

With the NBA’s worst record now clinched, the Houston Rockets (16-53) don’t have a lot to play for in the standings as the 2020-21 regular season winds down. However, with injuries having removed many of the roster’s marquee names, they do have a number of young players who are looking to potentially make their case for a roster spot next year.

One of those is young sharpshooter Armoni Brooks, who was signed to his first NBA contract in early April and connected on 6-of-9 shots from 3-point range (66.7%) during Monday’s loss at Portland. That gives the 6-foot-3 guard 47 made 3-pointers in his first 17 NBA games.

That total of 47 treys in 17 games is the most in league history over that span to start a career, topping future Hall of Famer Stephen Curry (43).

“Confidence is a big thing,” Brooks said postgame. “All of my teammates and everyone on the coaching staff are telling me, ‘Shoot the ball when you get a shot. Be aggressive.’ Having people back you allows me (to have) that self-confidence. That’s big. I’m still adjusting to the speed to get your shots off, and make high-quality shots.”

For the 2020-21 season to date, Brooks is now averaging 9.8 points (38.8% on 3-pointers) in 24.4 minutes, and he’s doing it on very high volume of 7.1 attempts per game from 3-point range.

In the coming offseason, Brooks said he wants to work on his defense, strength, and physicality. But even with his currently slender frame, Brooks feels that he is already learning and adapting.

“Being a rookie and being able to come in and get valuable experience early in my playing career is great,” Brooks said from Portland. “Not a lot of guys on two-ways or rookies in general get the ability to play this much time, and learn as they continue to grow. Playing on the court instead of just watching on film is a big jump for me.”

“Just adjusting to the speed of the game, the physicality,” Brooks said. “That’s the part that you can’t really watch on film. You have to get out there and experience firsthand.”

That’s what the University of Houston product is using his chance late in the 2020-21 season to do, and based on his shooting form, it seems likely to earn Brooks further NBA opportunities heading into 2021-22.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zPbwz7PQYE

Rockets clinch NBA’s worst record with loss to Damian Lillard, Trail Blazers

The Trail Blazers scored 50 points in the first quarter on 12-of-16 shooting (75%) on 3-pointers, and it was never especially close after.

The Houston Rockets (16-53) clinched the NBA’s worst record of the 2020-21 season with Monday’s 140-129 loss (box score) in Portland. The Trail Blazers (40-29) blitzed the visitors with 50 points in the first quarter, including an incredible 12-of-16 showing on 3-pointers (75.0%), and the game was never especially close thereafter.

For Houston, it’s the first time they’ve had the league’s worst record since going 14-68 in the 1982-83 season. That launched a run of consecutive No. 1 picks in the NBA draft for the Rockets, who selected Hall of Famers Ralph Sampson and Hakeem Olajuwon in 1983 and 1984.

Damian Lillard led the Blazers with 34 points and 9 rebounds, while Kelly Olynyk (21 points, 8 rebounds), DJ Augustin (21 points), Khyri Thomas (18 points, 5 assists) and Armoni Brooks (18 points, 6-of-9 on 3-pointers) were among the standouts for Houston. Both the Rockets and Blazers hit 18 shots from 3-point range, which led to the high scoring totals.

As usual, the Rockets were quite short-handed, with marquee injury absences including Christian Wood (right ankle), John Wall (right hamstring), Eric Gordon (right groin), and Kevin Porter Jr. (left ankle).

Houston completes its four-game road trip on Wednesday night against the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers, with tipoff scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Central. For now, here’s a selection of highlights, analysis, and postgame reaction from Monday’s loss to Portland.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjwuE-dFSQs

KJ Martin sparks short-handed Rockets in competitive loss to Bucks

Martin set career-highs in points (26), assists (7), and treys, while DJ Augustin returned with 17 points. Newcomer Khyri Thomas scored 16.

With only eight active players, including three rookies and one player signed only hours before tipoff, the Rockets were surprisingly competitive in Friday’s 141-133 loss (box score) at Milwaukee. The Bucks (43-24) have the No. 3 record in the Eastern Conference, while Houston (16-51) retains the NBA’s worst record in the 2020-21 season.

As such, it was a relatively strong showing by a very short-handed team. The Rockets trailed by only a point at halftime and came within two late in the third quarter. Rookie KJ Martin (26 points, 7 assists, 6-of-10 on 3-pointers) set career-highs in all of those categories, while fellow big man Kelly Olynyk had 23 points, 7 assists, and a game-high 12 rebounds.

In his first appearance in nearly a month, veteran point guard DJ Augustin returned from a sprained left ankle and had 17 points and 5 assists in 29 minutes. Meanwhile, newcomer Khyri Thomas scored 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting (85.7%) in his first game with the Rockets.

Rookie guard Armoni Brooks added 19 points and 6 assists off the bench, including 5-of-9 on 3-pointers (55.6%). As a team, the Rockets shot 25-of-52 on 3-pointers (48.1%), including six by Martin, five by Brooks, and four apiece by Augustin and rookie forward Anthony Lamb.

In a balanced effort, the Bucks had three players score 20 or more, including Brook Lopez (24 points, 7 rebounds), Khris Middleton (23 points), and Jrue Holiday (20 points, 8 assists). Back-to-back NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo had 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists.

The Rockets were missing 10 of their 17 players under standard contracts, including Christian Wood (right ankle), John Wall (right hamstring), Jae’Sean Tate (left knee), Eric Gordon (right groin), Sterling Brown (left knee), Kevin Porter Jr. (left ankle), Avery Bradley (personal reasons), Dante Exum (left calf), David Nwaba (right wrist), and D.J. Wilson (health and safety protocols). Houston was able to dress eight active players, which is the minimum, by signing Thomas to a hardship exception.

See below for highlights, analysis, and postgame reaction from Friday’s loss in Milwaukee. The Rockets have a late flight to Utah to get ready for another game on Saturday, with tipoff at 9:00 p.m. Central.

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Rockets rookies KJ Martin, Armoni Brooks, Anthony Lamb score career-highs in loss to 76ers

By the end of the game, Houston only had six active players in a predictable loss to Joel Embiid (34 points, 12 rebounds) and Philadelphia.

Rookies KJ Martin (23 points, 10 rebounds), Anthony Lamb (22 points, 6 rebounds), and Armoni Brooks (20 points, 6-of-14 on 3-pointers) each set career-high scoring totals for the Houston Rockets in Wednesday’s 135-115 home loss (box score) to the Philadelphia 76ers at Toyota Center.

Veteran big man Kelly Olynyk led the Rockets with a team-high 27 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists, while the 76ers were paced by All-Star center Joel Embiid — who had game-high totals of 34 points and 12 rebounds in just 25 minutes. The Sixers (45-21) have the top record in the Eastern Conference, while the Rockets (16-50) remain in the NBA cellar.

The Rockets entered Wednesday’s game with only eight active players due to widespread roster injuries and issues with the NBA’s health and safety protocols, and they ended with even less due to yet another injury suffered by a key player. Second-year guard Kevin Porter Jr. limped off the court and to the locker room during the third quarter, and the Rockets ruled him out almost immediately, citing a left ankle sprain.

Prior to leaving, Porter tallied 16 points and 5 assists in just 23 minutes. Head coach Stephen Silas said postgame that he did not yet have an update on Porter’s status, though with a back-to-back looming on Friday and Saturday in Milwaukee and Utah, it would seem unlikely that Houston plays Porter in both ends, at a bare minimum. Other players to have suffered ankle sprains in recent weeks have included Danuel House Jr. and DJ Augustin, and each missed several weeks after the injury.

Augustin was dressed out and listed as active so that Houston would meet the NBA’s minimum requirement of eight players to play, but Silas did not use him. After Porter went out, the Rockets effectively had only six available players for the game’s duration — Olynyk, Brooks, Lamb, Martin, Avery Bradley, and DaQuan Jeffries. Martin, a 20-year-old rookie, is the lone member of those six to have joined Houston prior to March. For Silas and the Rockets, that underscores the historic nature of this season’s never-ending wave of injury losses and roster changes.

Earlier Wednesday, Houston reportedly reached a 10-day contract agreement with young guard Khyri Thomas. Given Porter’s new injury, the potential availability of Thomas could become even more important as the Rockets look to navigate their final six games of the season.

See below for a compilation of Wednesday’s highlights, analysis, and postgame reaction. Houston returns to action on Friday night in Milwaukee, with tipoff scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Central.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12Yul1kCe_w