The Houston Rockets haven’t gotten everything they hoped for from Jalen Green.
For some, last year was particularly painful. There was optimism that Green would break out under head coach Ime Udoka. Instead, he continued to struggle with his efficiency. Green was unstoppable in March, but for most of the year, he was in his own way.
That said, Green quietly made some strides in 2023-24. His scoring production wasn’t where we wanted to see it, but Green improved as a defender and a playmaker. That could be part of a prolonged process that sees Green become a more well-rounded player in the future.
That’s great. Still, the Rockets drafted Green to score. If he can’t put up points in high volume with acceptable efficiency, he won’t meet expectations for this squad.
Everyone believes he will make good on his potential in 2024-25.
This prediction will undoubtedly lead to controversy. For some Rockets fans, Alperen Sengun is the clear choice to lead the team in scoring next year. Still, Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes has some sound logic for selecting Green.
“Sengün’s passing and post game make him the better offensive player, and he will have the ball a ton as a hub of Houston’s attack. But Green’s incredible athleticism, developing shooting stroke and general scoring instincts make him the choice in a very close race.
Green should lead the Rockets in scoring
There’s no shortage of questions about the fit between Green and Sengun.
We will simply say this: if Green and Sengun are complimenting each other, that should result in more scoring production for Green. If this duo is clicking, it should result in more points per game for the former lottery pick.
By contrast, we’d like to see Sengun’s assists per game take a leap. When he’s trying to score on the low block (or in the pick and roll), he’s occupying the paint. Sengun draws his primary assignment into the same zone in the process. That can make life difficult for a downhill guard like Green (or Amen Thompson for that matter).
What if Sengun was in the high post or on the elbows more often? That would clear the paint for Green, and put Sengun in a more opportune position to set him up.
Put differently, this isn’t about minimizing Sengun. It’s about maximizing Green. We’re eager to see if he can put it together in 2024-25. If he does, he should lead the Rockets in scoring.
