OKC Thunder key no. 2 – Defense is this Rockets squad calling card
The biggest change for this iteration of the Rockets is their defense. They rank fourth overall but it’s notable in week one they sat 27th. Focusing just on the games played since the trade the Rockets have the best defense in that period.
This club is comprised of numerous players who feel like they weren’t appreciated by their former teams and have an ax to grind.
It’s made them a gritty, somewhat chippy team who feast on the defensive side of the hardwood.
They rank second overall for blocks per game with 6.3.
The versatility of the personnel allows Houston to defend well at the rim as well as on the perimeter.
Not surprisingly, the team made huge strides following the trade, in many defensive categories. For example, they’ve moved up to eighth-best for opponent points in the paint (43.8) whereas they ranked in the bottom half prior.
While they were one of the better perimeter defenders they’ve jumped to the second-best perimeter defenders since Harden left.
Sure , they still shoot attempt the sixth most 3-pointers (38.2) but it’s a far cry from the 45.3 per game they shot last season.
Instead, Stephen Silas has got his squad’s buy-in to defense and that primary focus has been key to the win streak.