Tag: Tari Eason

Rockets coach Stephen Silas sees Tari Eason as impactful role player

#Rockets coach Stephen Silas sees lots of potential for rookie Tari Eason as an impactful role player. “He plays hard,” Silas says of Eason’s immediate contributions.

The 2022-23 season is in its second half, and the Houston Rockets are building their roster with eyes on the future. The development of young talent has been a clear rebuilding focal point, with an emphasis on well-rounded players, not necessarily stars.

When the Rockets took Tari Eason at No. 17 in the 2022 NBA draft, they knew they were getting a versatile forward. He’s shown flashes of what made him valuable out of LSU with scoring and rebounding, creating needed flexibility. Rockets head coach Stephen Silas addressed the media after Thursday’s 113-95 home loss to Cleveland and mentioned Eason’s potential as a consistent role player.

“He plays hard,” Silas said of Eason. “He gives us the same thing. Every game with offensive rebounding. It’s getting out in transition. It’s making a three here and there but second-chance opportunities at the rim. Layups, Euro steps, that kind of thing, and then defensively, he’s very versatile. His game at LSU is very similar to how he can play here, as far as being a role player, and that’s important.”

Eason finished Thursday’s game with 18 points and 11 rebounds in 25 minutes. The 21-year-old’s ability to crash the boards, defend, and shoot from the outside is a very useful combination of skills that will keep Eason in the rotation for the foreseeable future.

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Podcast: How Alperen Sengun’s higher usage is helping Jalen Green

In today’s podcast, @BenDuBose and @PauloAlvesNBA break down Monday’s #Rockets win and explore how Jalen Green is turning his season around — with help from Alperen Sengun.

Since Kevin Porter Jr. went out on Jan. 11 with a left foot injury, the emergence and higher usage of second-year center Alperen Sengun has become a huge storyline for the Houston Rockets.

Now, with second-year guard Jalen Green registering two 40-plus point games in his last three outings, including a career-high 42 in Monday’s win over Minnesota to snap an NBA-worst losing streak, an argument can clearly be made that the change in style is helping to improve the team and prospects around Sengun, as well.

With that in mind, Tuesday’s episode of “The Lager Line” (sponsored by Clutch City Lager of Karbach Brewing) explores what those trends could tell us about the remainder of the 2022-23 season.

Hosted by Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves, discussion topics include:

  • Reasons for the improved performance by Green, as well as its broader implications for the rebuild and team building;
  • Why running more offense through Sengun appears to be the smart play, even after Porter returns;
  • How increased pace is potentially helping Green and many of his young, athletic teammates on the Rockets;
  • What the emergence of rookie forward Tari Eason could mean for Houston as the Feb. 9 trade deadline approaches.

Over seven games since Jan. 11, Green is averaging 28.2 points and 3.5 assists for the Rockets on 46.9% shooting and 38.6% on 3-pointers. Meanwhile, Sengun is averaging 19.4 points (67.9% FG), 10.6 rebounds and 7 assists per game over that same period.

Tuesday’s full podcast can be listened to below. Each episode of the show is also available via flagship radio station SportsTalk 790, as well as to all major podcast distributors under “The Lager Line.”

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Takeaways: Rockets snap losing streak on Jalen Green’s career night

“I’m trying to be one of the best NBA players,” says Jalen Green, who scored a career-high 42 points in a win over Minnesota. “I’m trying to be coached, learn as much as I can.” #Rockets

Courtesy of a career-high 42 points on strong efficiency by Jalen Green, the NBA’s worst losing streak of the 2022-23 season is over. With Monday’s 119-114 win (box score) against Minnesota, the Houston Rockets ended what had been a 13-game slide.

Green made 15-of-25 shots overall (60%) and 6-of-12 from 3-point range (50%). He even had a key block in the closing two minutes as Houston (11-36) put the game away. Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves (24-25) with 31 points, but he had 6 turnovers to Green’s 1 — a dramatic turnaround from Saturday’s discrepancy between the same two players and teams in Minneapolis.

For Green, a talented guard prospect drafted second overall in the 2021 first round, it was his second 40-plus point outing in three games. He tied his prior career high with 41 versus Charlotte on Jan. 18.

Alperen Sengun added 21 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists for the Rockets on 8-of-12 shooting (66.7%), while rookie forward Tari Eason stuffed the stat sheet with 11 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 assists and 2 blocks in 26 minutes during his second career start.

Kevin Porter Jr. (left foot soreness) and Jabari Smith Jr. (right ankle sprain) each had their multi-game absences continue.

Scroll on for highlights, analysis and postgame interview reaction. Next up for Houston is the midpoint of a three-game homestand on Wednesday versus Washington. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. Central.

Takeaways: Anthony Edwards blasts Jalen Green, Rockets lose 13th straight

Anthony Edwards scored 44 points and severely outplayed Jalen Green as the #Rockets extended their losing streak to an NBA-worst 13 games on Saturday in Minnesota.

The NBA’s longest losing streak of the 2022-23 season is now at 13 games after Houston’s 113-104 loss (box score) on Saturday night at Minnesota. The young and rebuilding Rockets (10-36) have now lost 18 of their last 19 games, dating back to early December.

Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves (24-24) with 44 points on 17-of-29 shooting (58.6%), and 8-of-16 on 3-pointers (50.0%). That was more than enough on a night where his counterpart, Houston’s Jalen Green, had 10 points and 6 turnovers on 3-of-13 shooting (23.1%).

Rookie forward Tari Eason made his first start and played well for the Rockets, who were without a pair of starters in Kevin Porter Jr. (left foot soreness) and Jabari Smith Jr. (right ankle sprain).

Alperen Sengun led the way in scoring and rebounding, but it wasn’t enough to win. Key offensive statistics for Houston included:

  • Sengun: 19 points, 16 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 blocks; 7-of-9 shooting (77.8%), 1-of-1 on 3-pointers
  • Tari Eason: 14 points, 9 rebounds, 5-of-11 shooting (45.5%), 1-of-2 on 3-pointers (50.0%)
  • Eric Gordon: 16 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 7-of-12 shooting (58.3%), 2-of-5 on 3-pointers (40.0%)
  • KJ Martin: 10 points, 8 rebounds, 5-of-11 shooting (45.5%), 0-of-3 on 3-pointers

Scroll on for Saturday’s highlights, analysis and postgame interview reaction from Target Center. In the second of two straight games between the clubs, Minnesota pays a return visit to Houston on Monday night. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. Central from Toyota Center.

Alperen Sengun scores career-high 33 points as Rockets lose 11th straight to LeBron James, Lakers

Alperen Sengun had a monster game in Los Angeles with 33 points and 15 rebounds, but the #Rockets are now tied for the NBA’s longest losing streak this season (11).

With 11 straight losses and 16 in their last 17 games, overall, the young Houston Rockets are now tied for the NBA’s longest losing streak of the 2022-23 season after Monday’s 140-132 road setback (box score) against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Perennial All-Star forward and future Hall of Famer LeBron James led the Lakers (20-24) with a season-high 48 points on 16-of-26 shooting (61.5%), including 5-of-10 on 3-pointers (50%) and 11-of-12 on free throws (91.7%). James also had 9 assists and 7 rebounds.

But the Rockets (10-34) weren’t devoid of bright spots, starting with a career scoring night for second-year center Alperen Sengun.

Key offensive statistics for the Rockets, who collectively allowed a season-high point total for the 2022-23 year, included:

  • Alperen Sengun: Career-high 33 points, 14-of-17 shooting (82.4%), 2-of-2 on 3-pointers; 15 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 blocks in 37 minutes
  • Jalen Green: 23 points, 7-of-20 shooting (35%), 3-of-10 on 3-pointers (30%), 6-of-8 on free throws (75%); 5 rebounds, 3 assists in 39 minutes
  • KJ Martin: 17 points, 7-of-14 shooting (50%), 2-of-5 on 3-pointers (40%); 6 rebounds, 2 blocks in 30 minutes
  • Jabari Smith Jr.: 14 points, 5-of-11 shooting (45.5%); 4 rebounds, 4 assists in 28 minutes
  • Eric Gordon: 19 points, 5-of-11 shooting (45.5%), 9-of-11 on free throws (81.8%); season-high 8 assists in 32 minutes
  • Tari Eason: 9 points, 4-of-6 shooting (66.7%), 1-of-1 on 3-pointers; 7 rebounds in 20 minutes

Starting point guard Kevin Porter Jr. missed his third straight game with a left foot contusion, which he suffered last week in Sacramento.

Scroll on for Monday’s highlights, analysis, and postgame interview reaction from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. With its four-game California road trip in the books, Houston returns to action on Wednesday for a home game versus Charlotte. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. Central.

Takeaways: Losing streak reaches 10 as Clippers rally past Eric Gordon, Rockets

Eric Gordon tied his season-high in points and KJ Martin was a dunking machine versus the Clippers, but Houston’s losing streak lives on after another second-half collapse.

With a very short-handed roster, the young Houston Rockets (10-33) had  their losing streak hit a season-high 10 games in Sunday’s 121-100 road loss (box score) to the Los Angeles Clippers (23-22). The visitors have lost 15 of their last 16 games, overall.

Jalen Green and Jae’Sean Tate did not play in Sunday’s game due to the NBA’s announcement of a one-game suspension related to their role in an on-court altercation Friday night in Sacramento. Kevin Porter Jr. missed a second straight game with a left foot contusion.

As with many recent games, Houston was competitive until bench minutes late in the third quarter and early in the fourth, which is when the Clippers pulled away. Los Angeles was led by Kawhi Leonard and Terance Mann, who each broke 30 points in combining for 61 points on 24-of-40 shooting (60.0%) and 8-of-13 on 3-pointers (61.5%). Both players had 6 rebounds and 4 assists apiece, as well.

The Clippers outscored Houston, 30-10, in a decisive fourth quarter. Key statistics for the Rockets in Sunday’s game included:

  • Eric Gordon: Season-high 24 points, 8-of-16 shooting (50%), 7-of-8 free throws (87.5%) in 30 minutes
  • KJ Martin: 22 points, 9-of-14 shooting (64.3%), 9 rebounds in 33 minutes
  • Alperen Sengun: 15 points, 7-of-12 shooting (58.3%), 1-of-1 from 3-point range, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 6 turnovers in 30 minutes
  • Tari Eason: 11 points, 5-of-6 shooting (83.3%), 4 rebounds, 3 steals in 20 minutes

Scroll on for highlights, analysis, and postgame interview reaction from Crypto.com Arena. Next up for Houston, as its four-game West Coast road trip concludes, is Monday’s second game of a Los Angeles back-to-back versus the Lakers. Tipoff is at 9:30 p.m. Central.

Jalen Green, Jae’Sean Tate suspended by NBA for leaving Rockets’ bench

Jalen Green and Jae’Sean Tate briefly left the Rockets bench during Friday’s altercation in Sacramento, and that earned both an automatic suspension for the next game.

Second-year Rockets guard Jalen Green and third-year forward Jae’Sean Tate briefly left Houston’s bench during Friday’s altercation in Sacramento, which led to both being suspended for a game.

The NBA league office made the announcement early Sunday, which means that the Rockets will be short-handed later in the day when they visit the Los Angeles Clippers at Crypto.com Arena.

While neither Green nor Tate was deemed an instigator, the league’s policy automatically suspends any player who leaves the bench in an altercation. The intent is to reduce the odds of a greater conflict.

The scuffle occurred in Friday’s fourth quarter, and it primarily involved Houston’s Garrison Mathews and Sacramento’s Malik Monk. Rockets forward Tari Eason and Kings big man Chimezie Metu were also ejected, with officials ruling that Eason was an instigator.

Eason, however, was playing in the game at the time, which means he wasn’t subject to the automatic suspension rule. Green and Tate weren’t in the game, which made them subject to the policy.

Eason did receive a $30,000 fine from the NBA for escalating the altercation and making inadvertent contact with a game official as part of the activity in Sacramento. Mathews was fined $35,000 for initiating the altercation and taunting Monk, while Monk was fined $25,000 for continuing the altercation and taunting Mathews.

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‘Embrace the suck’: Tari Eason learning in rookie season with Rockets

#Rockets rookie Tari Eason tells @BigSargeSportz that “embracing the suck” can be critical. “When things are difficult, just embrace the things that you don’t want to do.”

Drafted at No. 17 in the 2022 first round, it hasn’t been the smoothest rookie season for Tari Eason with the Houston Rockets. The team owns the NBA’s worst record (10-30), and results have been a mixed bag for the rookie forward out of LSU.

While Eason has consistently provided value with defense and transition play, he has struggled to finish in recent games. Over his last seven games entering Wednesday, Eason was shooting 33.3% overall and 25% on 3-pointers — though he has still averaged an impressive 6.7 rebounds in 18 minutes per game over that span.

What’s most frustrating for Eason, as for all of Houston’s young squad, is the current seven-game losing streak and a run of 12 losses in their last 13 games. When asked by Rockets Wire’s Brian Barefield about watching film of his personal struggles, Eason said:

Embracing that suck. That’s what one of the weight trainers told me. In times like this, when things are difficult, just embrace the things that you don’t want to do.

Whether that’s diving into film or being in the weight room more, just embrace the situation, holistically. So that when I come out of it, I’m going to come out a better man.

For the season, Eason entered Wednesday averaging 7.9 points (42.1% FG, 36.6% on 3-pointers), 5.4 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 18.8 minutes as a key reserve off Houston’s bench.

Eason and the Rockets look to turn things around on Wednesday and Friday in Sacramento. The tip for both games versus the Kings (21-18) is 9 p.m. Central.

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‘There’s no improvement’: Rockets crushed by Julius Randle, turnovers on New Year’s Eve

“There’s no improvement,” veteran guard Eric Gordon said of the 2022-23 #Rockets after a New Year’s Eve loss to the Knicks with 25 turnovers and a season-worst 37.7% shooting clip.

New York scored 37 points off 25 Houston turnovers in Saturday’s matchup, leading to a 108-88 victory (box score) for the visitors in Toyota Center’s annual New Year’s Eve matchup. The Knicks (19-18) snapped their five-game losing streak, while the Rockets (10-26) enter 2023 having lost eight of their most recent nine games.

“There’s no improvement,” veteran guard Eric Gordon said postgame from a frustrated home locker room. Gordon had 12 points and 3 assists in 27 minutes on 5-of-10 shooting and 2-of-4 on 3-pointers (50.0%), though he did turn the ball over four times.

“Same old thing all year,” Gordon elaborated. We have a small margin for error. … It’s a lot of things. It’s mindset. You got to play for one another. Do what’s right by your teammates. If you do that, it’d be more fun. You give yourself a better chance to win.”

Veteran forward Julius Randle led the Knicks, who turned the ball over only 10 times, with 35 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists on 9-of-20 shooting (45.0% FG) and 5-of-13 from 3-point range (38.5%). Third-year guard Immanuel Quickley added 27 points and 7 assists.

Kevin Porter Jr. led the Rockets with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists on 7-of-12 shooting (58.3%) and 4-of-8 on 3-pointers (50.0%). Backcourt mate Jalen Green added 16 points and 3 assists, though he shot just 4-of-12 from the field (33.3%) and 3-of-8 on 3-pointers (37.5%). Porter and Green had a game-high five turnovers apiece.

Rookie forward Tari Eason grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds in 24 minutes off the bench, and he also added three steals. However, Eason shot just 4-of-11 from the field (36.4%), mirroring a night when the Rockets shot just 37.7% collectively and 30.4% on 3-pointers. By percentage, it was Houston’s coldest night of the 2022-23 NBA season.

Alperen Sengun sat out for the Rockets with lower back pain, while Jalen Brunson was scratched for New York with right hip soreness.

Scroll on for highlights, analysis, and postgame interview reaction from Toyota Center. Houston returns to action in the same building on Monday night versus Dallas, with tipoff at 7:00 p.m. Central.

Podcast: What will 2023 have in store for the Houston Rockets?

As this year draws to a close, today’s @TheLagerLine explores key #Rockets takeaways from 2022 and important storylines to watch in 2023 — including a potential James Harden return.

As the calendar turns to 2023, it will be a pivotal year for the Houston Rockets. They have significant salary cap room for roster upgrades, and the incentive to lose games for better draft positioning goes away after the 2022-23 season since draft picks are owed to Oklahoma City.

Thursday’s episode of “The Lager Line” (sponsored by Clutch City Lager of Karbach Brewing) explores the franchise’s looming transition, including the various high and low points of another rebuilding year in 2022 and some early ambitions for 2023.

Hosted by Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves, the show also features reaction to James Harden’s reported interest in potentially returning to the Rockets in 2023, as well as analysis of how Kevin Porter Jr. and Tari Eason have made important strides during recent games.

Thursday’s full podcast can be listened to below. Each episode of the show is also available via flagship radio station SportsTalk 790, as well as to all major podcast distributors under “The Lager Line.”

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