Los Angeles Lakers and tough loss against a promising future Houston Rockets

It sounds contradictory to say that a team that remains at the bottom of their Conference and presents the second worst record in the league he finds reasons to smile again. However, when the bar is as low as his Houston Rockets last time, each positive sign carries twice as much weight as for another franchise. The truth is, Texans are going through their own best moment of the campaign and this Wednesday they gave him a strong blow to the essentials Los Angeles Lakers: 114-110 for those of Silas.

Houston now has have won four of their last seven games, but what really matters to the Rockets is not the wins in an already lost season, but the conclusions they can draw going forward. Including understanding this Alperen Sengün is already the best player in the franchise and who should be the focal point of offenses, as opposed to the unpredictable and volatile Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr.

Although of course, the best sign they give in recent days for Houston has it Jabari Smith in the center of the stage. The former Auburn, selected with the third pick of the past Draftleaves behind a difficult campaign for beginnersto show the potential that led him to be considered one of the best works in its category.

Smith had three straight games of at least 20 points and 10 rebounds and averaged 22.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 58% shooting from the field in his last four appearances. Against the Lakers, he was not as accurate and ended the night with 18 units and 6 boardsbut again, noted a pair of consecutive triplets in the final quarter that paved the way for the local victory.

Smith is much more aggressive, confident and fit than he was at the start of the season. With his good level and an increasingly better Sengün (as well as an Usman Garuba who continues to be important defensively), Houston can at least say that Its inner game is well taken care of for the future. Although of course that doesn’t stop them from dreaming of Victor Wembanyama, even when their problems are in the foreground. back court.

And if it’s about inner gameit was there that Houston turned the game in their favor, against some Lakers without Anthony Davis (maintained at back to back) or Mo Bubba, who had to rely on Jared Vanderbilt and Wenien Gabriel as insiders. The result? 78 points in the paint for Houston, 46 for Ham.

Los Angeles also had one from the night with the shot of three (11 of 44), leveling percentage after a highly effective Tuesday in New Orleans, and gave up one party that can cost you dearly in his fight at middle class from the West.

The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the NBA or its organizations.