Tag: Jabari Smith Jr.

No regrets: Fred VanVleet empowered by leadership role with resurgent Rockets

“I just felt empowered and honored that I was the guy who was thought of to help lead this ship in the right direction,” Fred VanVleet says of his first Rockets season.

After spending his first seven years in the NBA with the Raptors, guard Fred VanVleet decided it was time for a change. He knew he was an asset to the team, having worked his way from a role player to an NBA All-Star during his tenure in Toronto.

The Raptors’ organization wanted him to be an intricate part of helping lead them back to success, as he had done as a reserve player when the Raptors won the NBA Finals in 2019.

Yet, the former undrafted player out of Wichita State declined his $22.8-million player option for the 2023-24 season and tested the free agent market in the 2023 offseason. He was not on the market for long. The Rockets made him the highest-paid undrafted player in the NBA history with a three-year, $130-million contract.

When paired with newly hired head coach Ime Udoka, whom VanVleet respected after competing versus the Boston Celtics when Udoka led them to the 2022 NBA Finals, VanVleet knew Houston was serious about turning things around after three tumultuous years resulting in an average win total of under 20 per season.

“From Day 1,” VanVleet said when asked when he knew he had made the right decision to join the Rockets.

“Talking to coach (Udoka), brainstorming and putting our minds together on what we wanted this thing to be and what we wanted it to look like, I just felt empowered and honored that I was the guy who was thought of to help lead this ship in the right direction.”

His floor leadership proved valuable to young players Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr.. He helped lead the Rockets to a non-losing season (41-41) for the first time in four years. Even though Houston missed its goal of advancing to the postseason, VanVleet is happy about the progress made on and off the court.

“We fell short of our goal; I want to make that clear,” VanVleet said during his exit interview after Sunday’s win over the Clippers in Los Angeles. As a veteran, VanVleet was held out of Houston’s final two games after pouring in a combined 79 points on elite efficiency during the two previous games (at Utah and home versus Orlando).

“We had the playoffs in our sight, and we fell short of that, but we made tremendous progress,” he said. “Especially if you are going to go back to where things were the past few years. To be able to come and turn this thing around or get it going in the right direction, it has been a great accomplishment so far, but not where we want to be.”

VanVleet had a career season, dishing 8.1 assists per game to rank No. 7 in the NBA in that category. In 24 of his 73 starts, VanVleet finished with 10 or more assists, including a season-high total of 17.

Another key attribute was VanVleet’s inability to turn over the ball, which the Rockets struggled with before his arrival. His 1.73 turnovers per game was the lowest he has had as a starter.

“He has been a very vital piece to us putting this thing together for the future,” Udoka said of VanVleet. “We just have to keep moving in the right direction, if we want to take that next step.”

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As Rockets adjust tactics, Jabari Smith Jr. thrives offensively at center

Since moving to center after Alperen Sengun’s injury, Jabari Smith Jr. is scoring 16.4 points per game while shooting over 40% on 3-pointers.

When the Rockets watched Alperen Sengun get injured late in their game at Sacramento on March 10, they knew that some adjustments to the starting lineup would be coming. After all, Houston’s third-year center was having a phenomenal season.

Head coach Ime Udoka did have one advantage, though. He had a player already in his starting lineup who could fill those shoes, and he welcomed the challenge of playing a position that he had played only sparingly over the first two seasons of his NBA career.

Jabari Smith Jr., 20, moved to Sengun’s position, while rookie Amen Thompson played power forward for the first time in his career. The result was an eight-game winning streak and a coming-out party for Smith, who was a fourth option in the offense to start the season behind Jalen Green, Fred VanVleet, and Sengun.

In the 14 games since the lineup change, Smith has shown clear improvement on offense while averaging 16.4 points (48.8% FG, 40.5% on 3-pointers) and 6.7 rebounds per game. His play became a crucial part of keeping Houston’s postseason hopes alive into early April.

“I love it,” Smith said when asked about being a scoring threat when Green gets double-teamed by opponents. “That is helping me. When they double him [Green], when they double Fred [VanVleet] in the pick-and-roll, it opens up my game and it opens up a lot of opportunities for me, Dillon [Brooks], people off the ball. It is good.”

When opposing defenses are not sending multiple defenders to Green or VanVleet, they often resort to zone defense to keep Houston’s athletic guards and wings from getting to the rim. This tactic gave the Rockets some problems earlier this season, which Houston adjusted to by making Sengun a facilitating hub from the mid-post.

But once Sengun left, Houston turned to a different offensive scheme to beat the zone. They put Smith at the free-throw-line extended area, where he can burn defenses with mid-range jump shots.

“It is a luxury,” Udoka said after Tuesday’s win over Orlando. “His mid-range is obviously pretty good, and he has a size advantage.”

After recording 23 points (52.9% FG, 60.0% on 3-pointers, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists versus the Magic, Smith was similarly optimistic.

“Coach really trusts me there,” Smith said of his placement. “Just getting in there, making the right play, and being aggressive. I have shooters around me, Fred around me, Dillon around me, Jalen around me. So, I have shooters around me, and that kind of opens up everything for me. It is fun when they go zone, because it shows that they can’t guard us in man [defense]. We take that as a compliment.”

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As Rockets’ streak hits 10, Jabari Smith Jr. makes up for lost time with clutch plays in OKC

“We just showed the team that,” Ime Udoka says of Jabari Smith Jr.’s clutch 3-pointer in Wednesday’s win. “Basically, it was our favorite play of the game.”

One thing that stands out about second-year Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. is that he is the ultimate team player. As long as he’s on the court and in the battle, Smith has made it clear that he is willing to do whatever it takes for Houston to be successful.

That is why his one-game suspension for getting into a minor skirmish with Utah Jazz guard Kris Dunn last Saturday impacted him, especially while his team is in a close race with the Golden State Warriors to make the Western Conference play-in tournament.

On Wednesday in Oklahoma City, Smith was eager to make up for lost time — and perhaps too eager. Smith committed two fouls in under two minutesand had to sit down, and that lack of rhythm played a role in a dismal 1-for-5 (20%) first-half shooting performance.

It was not the ideal start, but the No. 3 overall selection in the 2022 NBA draft (after one college season at Auburn) knew that he had to stay the course and be there when his team needed him.

With Houston trailing by one point with 26 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Jalen Green moved toward the lane, drawing three defenders and leaving Smith open beyond the 3-point line in the left corner.

As Green got deeper in the lane, he made the pass to Smith. Without hesitation, Smith shot a 24-foot trey over the outstretched arms of Oklahoma City’s Josh Giddey that hit nothing but net, putting the Rockets up by two points with 21.7 seconds left to play.

After the Thunder rallied to force overtime, Smith then hit another clutch 3-pointer to help Houston keep its current winning streak alive at 10 games, courtesy of the 132-126 win in Oklahoma City.

“I was seeing him [Green] going aggressive to the rim, as he had done all night,” said Smith, who finished with 16 points. “They collapsed, as they should, and they left me open in the corner, and I knocked it down. I could tell when he (Green) was driving, my man was kind of gravitating towards him because he had been cooking all night, but he made the right read and found me in the corner.”

As happy as Rockets head coach Ime Udoka was about Smith hitting the big shot late in regulation, he was more excited that Green was able to recognize the defenders rotating towards him. From there, he was able to make the right read of the Thunder defense, which had been sending multiple defenders his way all night.

“It was huge,” Udoka said when asked about Green’s decision-making. “We just showed the team that. Basically, it was our favorite play of the game. We just showed four guys in the paint, and he made the right pass. Dillon [Brooks] made two big ones [in overtime] after going 1-for- 9, and Jabari, who was struggling with the fouls early, didn’t hesitate, and Jalen didn’t hesitate to pass to him. Great pass, great growth. I’m proud of them for that play.”

Houston will look for its 11th consecutive win on Friday as it heads to Utah to play the Jazz for the second time in a week. This time, Smith will do everything he can to avoid having to leave early.

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In aftermath of fight, NBA suspends Houston’s Jabari Smith Jr. for Monday’s game vs. Portland

In the aftermath of Saturday’s physical altercation, the NBA suspended Utah’s Kris Dunn for two games and Houston’s Jabari Smith Jr. for one.

The NBA suspended Utah Jazz guard Kris Dunn for two games and Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. for one, citing their roles in an on-court altercation during Saturday’s game in Houston.

Smith will miss Monday’s home game versus Portland. Veteran Jeff Green is his likely replacement in Houston’s starting lineup.

From the league’s announcement:

Dunn was suspended two games without pay for initiating an altercation and throwing a punch at Smith Jr., who was suspended one game for fighting with Dunn, it was announced by Joe Dumars, executive vice president and head of basketball operations (for the NBA).

The incident, for which both were assessed technical fouls and ejected, occurred with 11:55 remaining in the second quarter of the Rockets’ 147-119 win over Utah.

Dunn will begin to serve his suspension on Monday, when the Jazz host Dallas. Smith Jr. will serve his suspension that night when the Rockets host Portland.

Extended video of the exchange can be viewed below, along with postgame comments by Dunn (audio) on his perspective. Smith was not made available to reporters by the Rockets, though he did react with “Lol” on social media shortly after Sunday’s announcement.

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After sluggish start, Rockets find inspiration from Ime Udoka

“He told us to wake up,” Jabari Smith Jr. says of Ime Udoka’s halftime message in Washington. “We had to come with a sense of urgency, and we did that.”

WASHINGTON — Houston head coach Ime Udoka looked disgusted as his team headed to the locker room for Tuesday’s halftime. Yes, the Rockets (33-35) held a narrow lead on the road versus the short-handed Wizards (11-58), but that wasn’t why he was so frustrated.

He watched his team allow the lowly Wizards to shoot 45.5% (10-for-22) from 3-point range, which kept Washington in the game.

Udoka has become known for his tough, no-nonsense approach with players this season, and that didn’t change when he got them into the locker room on Tuesday night. He held them longer than usual, ensuring his message resonated throughout the room.

Even so, the message didn’t seem to hit home until the Wizards took their first lead of the game, courtesy of a 27-foot shot from Patrick Baldwin Jr. (a 3-pointer). As the Rockets called timeout, Udoka received a technical foul for arguing with referee Tom Washington.

“My message was, we are playing with the game, messing around with the game,” Udoka said when asked about his halftime speech. “We were scoring at a high enough clip, but we have to guard. We didn’t come out great; I got a technical, and they went up on us.”

Still upset by that previous referee interaction, Udoka addressed his team again during the timeout and reminded them Washington wasn’t going to roll over because they were short-handed.

That message seemed to finally turn the light on for the young Rockets, as they used the last 9:25 of the third quarter to regain their dominance over the Wizards. In all, Houston outscored Washington, 39-16, to take a commanding 101-82 lead into the final period.

“We didn’t come out great, but we flipped it from there,” Udoka said. “Maybe my technical help them get that motivation going. We finally turned it around after a slow start coming out.”

With the game tied and 6:36 left in the third quarter, Wizards coach Brian Keefe watched Houston increase its intensity by getting stops on defense and turning the misses and turnovers into points.

“We made a lot of coverage mistakes, but it was really the last six minutes of the third quarter,” Keefe said when asked how the game got out of hand. “That game was back and forth until that point.”

After regaining their composure, the trio of Jalen Green (42 points, 10 rebounds), Amen Thompson (25 points, 10 rebounds) and Jabari Smith Jr. (18 points, 14 rebounds) contributed double-doubles to help the Rockets win their sixth consecutive game. Thompson’s scoring total set a career high, while Green tied his personal best.

“He told us to wake up,” Jabari Smith Jr. told Rockets Wire about Udoka’s halftime message. “It was a mutual thing because everyone knew it. We had to come with a sense of urgency, and we did that. It is how you have to approach it, and that is how we went about it.”

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With Alperen Sengun out, Jabari Smith Jr., Jock Landale stepping up in frontcourt for Rockets

The Rockets haven’t lost a game since Alperen Sengun’s injury, and improved play from Jabari Smith Jr. and Jock Landale is a big reason for it.

With star center Alperen Sengun likely out for the remainder of the NBA’s 2023-24 regular season, the Houston Rockets found themselves thin in the frontcourt when it comes to traditional big men.

While rookie Amen Thompson has filled in capably in the starting lineup, the athletic rookie certainly isn’t a post presence.

Enter Jabari Smith Jr. and Jock Landale. Smith moved from power forward to center after Sengun’s injury, and Landale has taken on a bigger role in matchups where Houston needs rim protection (and to help fill some of Thompson’s vacated bench minutes).

Landale had a career-high 7 blocks in Tuesday’s blowout victory at Washington, while Smith finished with 18 points and 14 rebounds while shooting 7-of-13 from the field (53.8%).

“It was great,” Rockets head coach Ime Udoka said of Landale’s career night as a shot blocker. “We acknowledged him in the locker room, about that. He was part of the unit that really got us going, from an energy standpoint. Meeting guys at the rim, making the right plays in there, and deterring shots, even if he didn’t block it.”

In four games since losing Sengun to injury, which have all been won by the Rockets, the frontcourt duo is averaging:

  • Smith: 17.3 points, 8.8 rebounds; 55.3% FG, 42.1% on 3-pointers in 30.5 minutes
  • Landale: 10.0 points (64.0% FG), 3.8 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, 2.0 assists in 22.5 minutes

To say the least, both sets of numbers are significantly ahead of each player’s averages for the season to date. Houston’s perfect record during these four games is obviously ahead of its usual clip, as well.

“He quietly went about his business,” Udoka said of Smith following Tuesday’s impressive road victory over the Wizards. “Four offensive rebounds, and there’s all the things he does besides switching and guarding some bigs. I thought he was really good.”

With four straight road victories, six consecutive overall wins, and an 8-1 record in March, Udoka and the Rockets will now look to keep that momentum rolling when they return to Houston (33-35) for a three-game homestand — starting Thursday night at Toyota Center. Tipoff versus the Bulls (34-35) is at 7:00 p.m. Central.

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Spacing and switching: Rockets adapt to life with Jabari Smith Jr. at center

Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff on the Rockets: “Playing smaller, playing switchable lineups, more five-out spacing, it does make them a little bit of a different team.”

The Rockets aren’t nearly as high powered on offense without injured center Alperen Sengun, and they also lack the physical post presence. With second-year forward Jabari Smith Jr. sliding to center and rookie Amen Thompson taking Smith’s vacated role at forward, however, Houston is suddenly more athletic in the frontcourt.

That dynamic allows head coach Ime Udoka to attempt even more switching on defense, and the presence of a big man with a reliable 3-point shot also provides floor-spacing benefits on offense.

“Jabari being a different pick-and-pop threat is really beneficial, especially against teams that play double bigs, like they do,” Udoka said after Saturday’s dominant win over Cleveland.

The Rockets were plus-22 in Smith’s 32 minutes, best of any player. He had 20 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks while making 8-of-13 shots (61.5%) and 3-of-5 from 3-point range (60%). Thompson added 18 points and 8 rebounds while making 8-of-11 shots (72.7%), most near the rim after offensive rebounds or creation by teammates.

“You try to find different ways to be effective,” said veteran point guard Fred VanVleet, speaking to the post-Sengun offense. “If they put a five and drop on Jabari, you’re going to pick-and-pop. He’s one of our better shooters. You got Amen rolling to the rim. He’s one of our better finishers. He can pass out of that short roll there.”

J.B. Bickerstaff, head coach of the Cavaliers (42-25), seems to have noticed. Here’s what Bickerstaff said of the new-look Rockets, via Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle:

As far as schemes and the team stuff … they’re different now. Playing smaller, playing switchable lineups, more five-out spacing, it does make them a little bit of a different team.

Houston (32-35) has won five straight games and is 7-1 in March. The Rockets look to build on that momentum when they visit Washington (11-55) on Tuesday. The tip is 6 p.m. Central.

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Ime Udoka sees Alperen Sengun’s final injury diagnosis as good news for Rockets

“The best news is that it is not broken, and no ligaments torn,” Ime Udoka says of Alperen Sengun’s diagnosis. “In the big picture, it was good news.”

SAN ANTONIO — Prior to Tuesday’s matchup versus the Spurs, Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka confirmed center Alperen Sengun will miss several weeks after being diagnosed with a Grade 3 right ankle sprain, along with a bone bruise to his knee.

The third-year big man was injured late in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 112-104 victory in Sacramento when he landed awkwardly after contesting a shot by Kings center Domantas Sabonis. Sengun fell to the baseline in agonizing pain, and medical staff used a wheelchair to take him to the locker room.

“Some relief,” Udoka said when asked about the final diagnosis. “Obviously you hate to see him miss time in general, but the best news is that it is not broken, and no ligaments torn. Although he will be out for several weeks, in the big picture, it was good news.”

Udoka also had an opportunity to speak with Sengun after being diagnosed with no broken bones.

“He was happy to get that news,” Udoka told reporters Tuesday. “Not only was it a painful injury that looked bad, but he was probably just scared on the court at that time.”

Sengun had a great season, averaging 21.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game in 63 starts for Houston. Coach Udoka will have to shuffle his starting lineup to fill the void in the middle.

On Tuesday, he turned to second-year forward Jabari Smith Jr., who often uses his offensive skills to draw bigger and more physical defenders out of the lane. He will also play with his back to the basket on different sets, which he has no issue with.

“Me setting the screen makes it hard for them (opposing centers) to switch,” Smith told Rockets Wire before the game. “Just me with my speed. I feel like it is harder for bigger people to guard me.”

Smith’s versatility can also make him a menace on the defensive end. Ideally, this puts the Rockets in a situation where they will have quicker players on the floor to help prevent open 3-point shots, which they have struggled with at many junctures of the 2023-24 season

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With Alperen Sengun injured, Rockets promote Amen Thompson to starting lineup

With Alperen Sengun sidelined by injury, Houston’s initial starting five will consist of Jabari Smith Jr. sliding to center and Amen Thompson taking a forward spot.

With usual starting center Alperen Sengun (right ankle sprain) likely out for the duration of the 2023-24 regular season, the Houston Rockets aren’t replacing him with a traditional big man.

At least for the time being, head coach Ime Udoka is opting instead to go to a smaller lineup with more speed and athleticism.

In Tuesday’s game in San Antonio — the Spurs start a slender, athletic player, Victor Wembanyama, in the middle — the Rockets opted to slide second-year prospect Jabari Smith Jr. to center.

In turn, that allowed rookie Amen Thompson to fill one of the vacated forward spots alongside veteran Dillon Brooks. Fred VanVleet and Jalen Green continue to start in the backcourt roles.

Had Udoka opted for a more traditional lineup — and it’s possible he could change course in future games — veterans Jeff Green and Jock Landale are options for expanded frontcourt roles. But at least for now, it appears the Rockets want to use the vacated minutes to get a longer look at their uber-athletic rookie, who provides considerable value as a versatile defender and strong rebounder.

Before the All-Star break, Udoka appeared to suggest Thompson could be an option to replace the struggling Jalen Green at shooting guard. In that case, Udoka ultimately chose to stay the course with Green, whose performances have improved since.

A month later, Thompson gets the first call after a spot in the starting lineup finally opened (due to Sengun’s injury). Even with a somewhat unconventional fit, at least in terms of positions and roles, the hope is Thompson’s talent will prove worth it.

Over his last 27 games, Thompson is averaging 9.7 points (54% FG), 7.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 1 block in 22.7 minutes per game. Most impressively, even as a rookie, the 21-year-old has become one of Houston’s best and most trusted defenders. At 6-foot-7, he’s capable of covering and switching across most positions.

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Takeaways: Jalen Green drops 34 points, but Rockets lack support in Phoenix

Jalen Green led the way with 34 points and a season-high seven 3-pointers, but it wasn’t enough to win on the road versus Devin Booker (35 points) and the Suns.

In the first of two straight games in the same building between the same teams, the Rockets couldn’t recapture their home form in Thursday’s 110-105 loss (box score) to the Phoenix Suns. With the loss, Houston (25-34) drops to a woeful 5-24 on the road this season.

Tari Eason remained sidelined with a lower left leg injury, and it appears quite possible that it could end his 2023-24 season. Bradley Beal and Eric Gordon were out with minor injuries for Phoenix.

The Suns lost in Houston last Friday, but led by Devin Booker, it was a very different story in Phoenix (35-24). The All-Star guard finished with a game-high 35 points on Thursday while shooting 13-of-27 from the field (48.1%), including 6-of-11 on 3-pointers (54.5%).

Jalen Green led the way for the Rockets, finishing with a team-high 34 points and 5 rebounds. Green’s shot faded as the game progressed and he shot just 10-of-27 (37.0%), though he did make 7-of-17 from 3-point range (41.2%) and all seven of his free-throw attempts.

But on the offensive end of the court, Green didn’t have enough help, and particularly not from distance. Other notable lines included:

  • Fred VanVleet: 21 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists; 6-of-16 shooting (37.5%), 2-of-8 on 3-pointers (25.0%), 7-of-7 on free throws
  • Jabari Smith Jr.: 11 points, 16 rebounds; 3-of-11 shooting (27.3%), 1-of-6 on 3-pointers (16.7%)
  • Dillon Brooks: 6 points, 8 rebounds; 3-of-11 shooting (27.3%), 0-of-6 on 3-pointers
  • Alperen Sengun: 8 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 6 fouls, ejected; 3-of-7 shooting (42.9%)
  • Cam Whitmore: 14 points, 8 rebounds; 5-of-14 shooting (35.7%), 0-of-5 on 3-pointers

As a team, the Rockets connected on just 33-of-99 shots (33.3%) and 11-of-45 from 3-point range (24.4%) on Thursday night.

On the positive side, Houston went +12 in 10 minutes with backup center Jock Landale, who tallied 8 points (50% FG) and 6 rebounds.

Here’s our look at Thursday’s highlights and postgame interviews, along with reaction by media members and fans. Saturday’s rematch from Footprint Center is up next, with the tip at 8 p.m. Central.