Victor Oladipo after fourth straight win: Rockets ‘love one another’

“When you have a group of guys with that mentality, it’s hard not to get along,” Oladipo said after Thursday’s win. “Happy to be here.”

The importance of team chemistry is becoming a clear theme in interviews with the surging Houston Rockets.

After Thursday’s home win over Portland, which was the fourth in a row for the Rockets (8-9), recently acquired guard Victor Oladipo elaborated on the dynamics between teammates in the Houston locker room.

“I’m having a great time playing with these guys,” said Oladipo, who led the Rockets with 25 points (highlights) versus the Trail Blazers — including a crucial bucket in the final 30 seconds to help secure the win. “We love one another and playing together. When you have a group of guys with that mentality, it’s hard not to get along. Happy to be here.”

Oladipo’s strong perimeter defense also helped limit shot attempts for Portland star Damian Lillard down the stretch. Over the last eight games, Houston is No. 1 in the NBA in net defensive rating.

“It’s a great group of guys in this locker room, a lot of guys with chips on their shoulders, a lot of guys with something to prove,” said Oladipo, a two-time All-Star. “We’re hungry, and we’re gonna remain that way.”

Houston started 3-6 in the first nine games of the 2020-21 season and ranked No. 22 on the defensive end. Then, since trading James Harden to Brooklyn in a blockbuster deal that brought Oladipo from Indiana to Houston, the Rockets are 5-3 and rank No. 1 in defensive rating.

Several videos of Oladipo’s postgame comments are available below, along with analysis of his play by head coach Stephen Silas.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te9oAStgy4M

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