Rockets pleased with overall preseason results
While they have things to work on, the Rockets are pleased with where they stand after four preseason games
HOUSTON (SportsRadio 610) - With less than two minutes left in the first half of the Rockets final preseason game, Amen Thompson blocked Blake Wesley's three-point attempt and the rebound fell right to Fred VanVleet.
The Rockets point guard had a chance to get the Rockets out in transition, but his 80-foot home run pass was intercepted by Stephon Castle.
It was the 11th of 12 first half turnovers, and the seventh of the second quarter.
"Majority of those (were) in transition," Rockets head coach Ime Udoka said. "You end up with 14 fast break points when you should be around 30 if you convert and execute there."
The Rockets finished their preseason schedule with a 129-107 win over a Spurs team that elected to sit many of their regulars, including Victor Wembanyama and Chris Paul. In going 3-1 in their exhibition slate, the Rockets did some things well, but they know there a some things to be cleaned up before real games start on Wednesday.
"I think tonight was the most aggressive we were on offensive glass, getting after it," Udoka said. "Transition was great, the pace was, but it was a little too sloppy in transition."
After an off day on Friday, the Rockets will return to practice Saturday afternoon where they'll spend a few days fine tuning things that worked well during the preseason. Then the team will turn its attention to the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday.
"We were a little sloppy the first two games, but I feel like we cleaned it up the last two and got the results we needed," Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. said. "Still a lot to work on, but I think we're happy with where we're at. I'm just happy that there's so much we can improve on."
The Rockets started the preseason with a little bit of a head start on the rest of the league because they returned their top 12 in minutes played from last season. Only five of their top 12 from the 2022-23 were on the roster last season.
"I feel like the chemistry in the locker room this year is so different," Rockets guard Amen Thompson said. "I feel like everybody's a family this year, and our vets and our young guys are starting to lead so I think we're going to be really good this year."
Expectations were lofty when training camp started October 1, and they've only grown in the two and a half weeks that have followed.
"Everybody's locked in," Smith said. "Everybody got the same goal in mind- it's to win. We want to win as many games as possible. We know what it takes. We know how many games you let slip out of our hands last year. Just going in this year with a totally different mindset. We know what it takes to win, and we gotta do that."
