Tag: Los Aneles Lakers

Rockets rookie Jalen Green learned to use quickness to his advantage during rehabilitation

“The game is starting to slow down,” said Rockets rookie Jalen Green, who says he is now using his speed to his advantage. “I’m making better reads, seeing things that are open, being more patient.”

Rookie guard Jalen Green had his share of elite moments over his first 17 career games with the Houston Rockets, but they were very sporadic. For example, there was his career-high 30-point game versus Boston, where he hit 8-of-10 from 3-point range (80%) on the night.

Two games later, however, he scored a career-low seven points against the Los Angeles Lakers. In November, he played in 12 total games and failed to score double digits in eight of those outings.

One reason for the inconsistent play was Green’s lack of physical stature going up against NBA veterans who use their size and physicality. The 19-year-old rookie, who was drafted at No. 2 overall in the 2021 first round, often found himself bullied on the offensive side of the court. Players would prevent him from getting to the basket by relentlessly getting up on him and using their bodies to slow him down.

Green knew coming into the season that he would have to endure some of the growing pains of playing in the NBA. He saw early on what the game plan would be defensively to combat his offensive skill set.

“I think it’s just going to take time,” Green said after his second preseason game in October 2021. “I’m 19. I’m playing against these grown men. They got something to use on me right now. I’m only going to get older, stronger, smarter.”

By the 18th game of his NBA career, Green seemed to have found a groove against the Chicago Bulls by scoring 11 points in 11 minutes, missing only one shot during that span in a game the Rockets desperately needed to win as they were amidst a 15-game losing streak.

Unfortunately, Green would have to leave the game with a strained hamstring injury, which caused him to miss nearly a month of action.

During his time away from the court in late November and early December, Green worked with assistant coach John Lucas on several things during his rehabilitation, including getting a quicker release on his shot. Still, the one improvement that has seemed to help him the most over the last four games is his ability to use his quickness and first step to prevent more prominent defenders from using their strength against him.

Since his Dec. 23, Green has averaged 22.2 points per game while shooting nearly 50% from the field and on 3-pointers.

“I am just trying to look for disadvantages on the other team,” Green said after scoring 29 points versus Denver on Saturday. “Whether it is someone who can’t play or try to be stronger than me. I just use my speed. I am a lot lighter, obviously, but I feel I am a lot faster than a lot of guys on the floor. On top of that, my shot falling gives me a lot of space and opportunity to create for myself.”

Green also attributes his recent success to taking his time to process everything that is going on during the game.

“I was just talking about that the other day with my people, how the game is starting to slow down,” Green said postgame. “I’m making better reads, seeing things that are open, being more patient.”

Green and the Rockets will begin a two-game East Coast road trip against the 76ers on Monday before heading to Washington to take on the Wizards. Tipoff between the Rockets and 76ers is at 6:00 p.m. CST.

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