Through the first 22 games of the NBA’s 2023-24 season, the Houston Rockets were 13-9 while ranking No. 2 in the league in net defensive rating. In three games since — all losses — the Rockets have allowed an average of 132.3 points per game, and that defensive rating has slipped to No. 6.
While there are undoubtedly quite a few reasons, one that seems to have drawn the ire of head coach Ime Udoka is the defense of Alperen Sengun at center. Sengun hasn’t been a part of multiple closing lineups for Houston over the past two weeks, and in Wednesday’s loss to Atlanta, the 21-year-old didn’t play the final 6:31.
Prior to Sengun’s removal, the Hawks converted a series of lobs to big man Onyeka Okongwu early in the period. That helped turn what had been a 5-point Rockets lead late in the third quarter into a Hawks lead that grew as large as 18 points midway through the fourth.
“Whether it’s big or small, we want our bigs to be up and stay beneath the rollers,” said Udoka, who clearly voiced some frustrations to Sengun during an early fourth-quarter timeout. “Okongwu got out a few times. (Clint) Capela the same thing. When they are not setting screens and slipping, you have to be able to adjust and defend those actions. So that’s what I saw. Not the best pick and roll defense.”
During that closing span with Sengun sitting, Houston cut Atlanta’s lead to as few as four points. For Wednesday’s game as a whole, the Rockets were minus-10 as a team in Sengun’s 27 minutes played, which represented the worst of any player in the starting lineup.
Ime Udoka on benching Alperen Sengun and what he saw from him on defense:
"The mistakes I talked about. We want our bigs to be up and stay beneath the rollers. Okongwu got out a few times. Capela same thing. When they're not setting screens and slipping, you have to be able to… pic.twitter.com/qpuTiuDqri
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) December 21, 2023
It remains to be seen how Udoka will handle his center rotation. The Rockets tried and failed to sign Milwaukee’s Brook Lopez, a defensive oriented big man, in 2023 free agency, and the team’s backup plan, Jock Landale, has struggled immensely to date.
At times, the Rockets have gone small and played without a traditional center, using Jabari Smith Jr. or Jeff Green to slide up from power forward. But that generally puts them at a strength disadvantage and can make rebounding more difficult.
Houston could attempt to acquire a defensive big man to complement Sengun before the February trade deadline, but it is uncertain when or if such a target might come available. With the NBA’s play-in tournament expanding the field of potential playoff teams, the market for in-season player acquisitions can time to take shape, since more teams have hopes of making a playoff push — and are thus reluctant to sell key players at an early date.
For now, the Rockets (13-12) have little choice but to try to improve their roster from within. The next opportunity for Sengun to shore up his recent deficiencies comes Friday night at home versus Dallas (16-11). The tip is set for 7 p.m. Central.
