LAS VEGAS — One day after losing their first Summer League game to the Orlando Magic, the Houston Rockets were back in the gym trying to fix some of the things that led to the 91-77 defeat.
Orlando shot 52% overall and 50% on 3-pointers in the first half, led by 13 points from Paolo Banchero, who was drafted No. 1 overall in the 2022 NBA draft. Houston looked lost in their sets on both sides of the ball, which stood out to summer league head coach Rick Higgins.
“The communication, which is interesting,” Higgins said Friday. “Because watching on film, you can almost — without being able to hear — you could feel the lack of communication.”
Unfamiliarity among a group of new teammates caused a lot of that miscommunication, since it was the first time most of the players on the Rockets had played with one another. Mix that in with a high amount of pregame adrenaline, and you have a team with no continuity.
“Obviously playing with new people you have to adapt,” second-year guard Josh Christopher said. “But that is what summer league is all about. Adapting and building chemistry with your new teammates.”
One of those teammates looking to build that chemistry through redemption is forward Jabari Smith Jr., who finished his highly anticipated matchup against Banchero with 10 points and 7 rebounds.
Smith put in a lot of work during practice on Friday, preparing himself for another big matchup Saturday versus No. 2 overall pick Chet Holmgren and Oklahoma City (schedule). After getting a feel for playing in an NBA game on Thursday, Higgins expects Smith to rebound nicely.
Rockets Summer League HC Rick Higgins on what he observed on film after the Magic loss:
“The communication, which is interesting, because watching on film you can almost, without being able to hear, you could feel the lack of communication.” #Rockets #Sarge #LightTheFuse pic.twitter.com/lVfok8Lrnf— Houston Sports Insider (@BigSargeSportz) July 9, 2022
“He hasn’t played a five-on-five basketball game since college and had his first one on last night (Thursday),” Higgins said regarding Smith’s debut performance. “Getting his feet under him, getting his body underneath him, and getting his game alignment will be huge.”
Saturday’s game will also be another opportunity for rookies Tari Eason and TyTy Washington to get more acclimated to playing NBA minutes. Eason finished Thursday’s game with a double-double, while Washington showed glimpses of being able to run an NBA offense.
“It was real, live NBA action, so I was happy to be out there,” Washington said after practice. “The pace of the game was way faster, and the court was bigger, so there is more spacing. I was just being a better leader vocally and staying aggressive. Taken what the defense was giving me. Whether that was me taking a shot, getting to the rim, or finding a teammate, I stayed aggressive throughout the whole game.”
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