125.2 points per 100 possessions! Why do the Rockets without VanVleet rank first in the league in offensive efficiency?

On October 31, the Rockets, who lost VanVleet, now rank first in the league in offensive efficiency. Data shows that the Rockets scored 125.2 points per 100 possessions in the first four games, beating the 76ers (124.9) and ranking first in the league. Although the sample size is small, the Rockets did show their dominance on the offensive end.

When the Rockets launched the "Five Death" lineup in the opening game, the outside world had high expectations for them to build one of the strongest defenses in the NBA. The five players in this starting lineup have a combination of height and athleticism and look good enough to handle any opponent. But the Rockets lost the first two games. Subsequently, Udoka made adjustments to the starting lineup and replaced Adams with Okogie. The Rockets rebounded and defeated their opponents for two consecutive games, showing a dominant performance.

Judging from their performance at the start of the season, the Rockets have undergone significant changes. They ranked fourth in the league in defensive efficiency last season. After the first four games of this season, their defensive efficiency ranked only 19th. On the contrary, the offensive end has become the "engine" of the Rockets. Not only do they rank first in the league in offensive efficiency, but they have scored 276 points in their last two wins - it is worth noting that all of this has been achieved in the absence of veteran floor general VanVleet, who suffered a torn ACL a few weeks before the start of training camp.

Of course, the strength of the Rockets' opponents in the past two games has been weakened: against the Raptors, the opponent's starting center Poeltl was absent; against the Brooklyn Nets, the Nets' lineup was not complete.

But even so, considering that Durant is still adapting to the team's system, and the team is still figuring out "who will create offensive opportunities" in the absence of VanVleet, the Rockets' offensive explosion at the beginning of the season is still a positive sign. The following team reporter Guillory analyzed the three core reasons for the Rockets' offensive explosion -

1. "Point Center" Shen Jing

Shen Jing has been one of the top "organizational insiders" in the NBA this season, but after the lack of VanVleet, his responsibilities have increased and his personal performance has also reached a higher level.

In the first four games, Shen Jing averaged 23.8 points and 7.3 assists per game, both of which hit career highs. He's pretty much taken over point guard duties while still maintaining one of the league's top low-post scoring abilities.

Early in his career, the 23-year-old often dismantled defenses by passing the ball near the free throw line or in the low post; now, like any defender on the team, he is responsible for advancing the ball and controlling the ball in pick-and-roll tactics.

Since entering the league, Shen Jing has been compared to "Little Jokic". Now he is fully controlling the team's offense, punishing opponents in all areas of the court like Nikola Jokic - when you have a 2.11-meter player who can dribble and create opportunities like this, do you still need those small point guards who occupy the ball?

Although the team's offensive rhythm sometimes slowed down when Shen Jing slowly found his offensive position, considering that the frequency of his activities on the outside has increased significantly, this efficiency is quite amazing.

When Shen Jing is on the court, the Rockets outscore their opponents by 61 points. Even so, this data may not fully reflect his importance to the team on both offense and defense.

With the addition of Durant, one of the core questions about the Rockets before the start of this season is whether Shen Jing is ready to become the "second superstar" the Rockets need to help the team compete with strong teams such as the Thunder and Nuggets.

Although the season has just begun, it seems that Shen Jing is clearly qualified for this role.

2. Durant fulfills expectations

Considering that the Rockets have many young and talented players who have shown potential last season, the significance of introducing Durant cannot be overstated - he has transformed the Rockets from a "potential team" into a real championship contender.

However, to realize all expectations, Durant needs to prove that he can still serve as the "first core" and continue to lead the team to win. So far, his performance on and off the court has fully met the Rockets' expectations.

In the first four games, Durant averaged 27.5 points per game, and his field goal percentage, three-point shooting percentage, and free throw percentage were 52.2%, 36.8%, and 84.6% respectively, although the ball usage rate (25.7%) hit a career low. He has a clear judgment on "when to lead the offense" and "when to let young people such as Shen Jing and Thompson take over."

In fact, if he can be more proactive in "asking his teammates to give him the ball and open up space", it may be more beneficial to the team as a whole.

Obviously, Durant had a clear plan when he joined the Rockets: to support the young players around him and encourage them to lead the offense instead of taking on all the tasks himself.

After VanVleet was sidelined due to knee surgery, a major concern from the outside world was: How much physical and mental pressure did the 37-year-old Durant need to endure in the first few months of the season to support the team's offense? The Rockets must both rely on Durant and ensure that he can maintain his top form in the playoffs. How to balance the two?

The good news is that Durant obviously feels comfortable when cooperating with his new teammates. He will "make space" at the right time, allowing players such as Thompson, Eason, and Sheppard to control the game when necessary.

Another statistic that shows Durant is in good shape and continues to put pressure on opponents' defenses is: He currently averages 9.8 free throw opportunities per game. This is the first time since the 2013-14 season that he has averaged more than 9 free throws per game in a single season. In addition, Shen Jing also averaged 8.5 free throw opportunities per game, far more than any previous season in his career.

The Rockets are not satisfied with jump shots, but focus on fast breaks and attacking the basket, forcing the opponent's defense to make difficult choices. Although Shin Kyung and Durant are still working together, the two have become one of the top duos in the NBA. Previously, famous reporter Sidery also listed a statistic: When Shen Jing and Durant are on the same court, the Rockets' offensive efficiency is as high as 131.9, and they can beat their opponents by 19.1 points per 100 rounds.

3. Offensive rebound upgrade

Last season, the Rockets' offensive rebound rate reached a historic level, and in the first four games of this season, their offensive rebound performance has reached a higher level.

In the first four games, the Rockets grabbed 4.29 offensive rebounds for every 10 missed shots, with an offensive rebound rate of 42.9%, tied for first in the league with the Jazz. Last season, the Rockets ranked first in the league with an offensive rebound rate of 36.3%, and they had a clear lead.

Although the ultra-high offensive rebound rate of 42.9% may not be maintained throughout the season, the combination of Shen Jing, Thompson and Adams can have an advantage in offensive rebounds when facing most opponents. This creates the most efficient scoring opportunities for the team - whether it is a tip-in under the basket or a three-point shot after the outside ball is released.

This season, the Rockets once again ranked among the top ranks of the league in "secondary offense scoring" and "fast break scoring". They can suppress opponents with their height, their athletic ability, or even both.

Overall, the Rockets performed well in offensive execution and showed an understanding of "how to complement each other" at the beginning of the season. As Durant has more opportunities to become familiar with his teammates' technical characteristics and game mentality, this cooperation will only get better and better.

The performance at the beginning of the season has shown that this Rockets team has advantages in many statistics and is a difficult "hard nut" for most opponents. If Durant and Shen Jing can continue to maintain a high level, the Rockets will become a major threat in the Western Conference.