With Game 2 approaching Tuesday, all of the Houston Rockets can do until then is consider how they really missed Kevin Durant on the market. This recreation featured all of the necessary gamers outdoors of Durant, so the hope was to see who would step up and carry the load. Surprisingly, what was most notable from this recreation got here from a participant off the bench. This sequence was deemed a positive matchup, and that’s already being put to the check.
Tari Eason proved his value in Game 1
Back in January, Rockets followers let out a sigh of relief upon listening to that Tari Eason was right here to remain. In 60 video games performed this yr (34 begins), Eason averaged 10.5 factors, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists, displaying his value as a rotational piece. So, as Game 1 got here to an finish, it was shocking to seek out ourselves questioning why Eason deserved to be main the cost. Eason completed with a stat line of 16 factors, 10 rebounds and a pair of assists whereas capturing 7/7 from the sector.
In a recreation like this, a number of the load falls on a participant like Alperen Sengun to drive the bus. Overall, it was a poor capturing night time that led to Sengun being matched up with Deandre Ayton, who was a key piece in Houston’s loss. That poor capturing prolonged to the remainder of the starters as effectively, between Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., and Reed Sheppard. In seeing this, we won’t assist however surprise why they saved getting performs run for them whereas Eason was doing the other.
Will change be coming on this sequence?
This isn’t the primary time Ime Udoka’s administration of this roster and its rotation has come underneath query from followers. Durant’s sudden harm offered an opportunity for the Rockets to have their hand pressured into testing the gamers who deserve larger possibilities. But realizing when to play the new hand can also be important. Especially when the Los Angeles Lakers unit had a number of items firing on all cylinders.
Luke Kennard had a playoff career-high 27 factors on nice capturing, and there’s potential that if Eason obtained extra time, this nine-point loss may have been extra of a recreation. Overall, asking theoreticals isn’t going to alter something; the sport has already been performed. The Rockets have quite a bit they want to consider earlier than Game 2 tip-offs this coming Tuesday. This sequence remains to be younger, and even with the accidents between each groups, it’s anybody’s recreation.
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