Uduka showdown! Has the Rockets tactics changed? Three-point shooting will surge, and the Big 3 will become a tactical fulcrum

In the next two games, the Rockets face the Pelicans and Hawks respectively. If the Rockets play well and perform normally, winning two wins will not be a problem. In this way, the Rockets are expected to win all four preseason games, which is 4 wins and 0 losses. However, the Rockets don't seem to particularly value winning or losing in the preseason. After all, being able to adjust tactics, adjust lineup arrangements, and let more players play is Uduka's final plan. After all, the preseason serves the regular season. In this kind of warm-up match, the Rockets will definitely continue to try various new tactics and new player combinations, and finally select the best lineup and tactical system.

The Rockets' opponents in the first 20 games of the regular season are very strong, so now using the last two preseason games, the Rockets should quickly find a suitable starting lineup and main rotation lineup to cope with the more difficult regular season challenges. So what changes have the Rockets' tactics in the new season compared to last season?

In fact, the Rockets were a team that blossomed more on the offensive end last season. If I remember correctly, 7 Rockets players averaged double figures in the regular season last season. Only Jaylen Green averaged more than 20 points per game. The other players averaged around 10 points per game.

Although it seems that the Rockets lack that kind of star-level scorer, the scary thing about the Rockets is this: there are too many people who can score and there are too many people who can shoot, and the opponent can't guard them at all. If these core players are guarded, several other role players can also score to help the Rockets win; if the role players are restricted, several core players of the Rockets can also easily score high points. The Rockets won the game based on this. In addition to good defense and rebounding, their team basketball tactics also played a huge role.

But the Rockets are not without their shortcomings. For example, they are not good at scoring at critical moments. In addition, the Rockets' three-point production and shooting rate are not very high. Last season, the Rockets' three-point shooting percentage was in the middle and lower reaches of the league, and the number of three-point shots and number of hits were also in the middle and lower reaches of the league. This has always been a pain point for the Rockets. However, now that the Rockets have introduced two three-point shooting experts in Durant and Finney Smith, their three-point shooting performance is expected to improve next season. Shen Jing and Amen Thompson have obviously worked hard on three-pointers during the offseason. In the first two games of the preseason, they also shot very well from three-pointers. The Rockets should not have a big problem with three-pointers now.

Rockets coach Uduka also said in an interview that although three-pointers are not the only way to win, he wants to increase the Rockets' team's three-point production, such as the number of shots taken and the number of hits. And Uduka believes that the Rockets need to use the so-called "Big Three" - Shen Jing, Amen Thompson and Durant to create more offensive space and allow other players to get more opportunities to easily shoot in the open space and hit three-pointers.

Last season, the Rockets actually had many ways to score, such as attacking the basket after breaking through, Shen Jing's low singles, foul shots, and secondary attacks. These are the Rockets' main scoring methods. In terms of three-pointers, although the Rockets shoot more, they are only one of the ordinary offensive methods.

In the new season, Uduka obviously wants to increase the quantity and quality of three-point shots. They want to become a team that uses three-point shots as the main way to score. After all, with the super shooter Durant, it is entirely possible for the Rockets to become the so-called "three-point team." The Rockets need Durant, Shen Jing and Amen Thompson to become the tactical fulcrum and create more shooting opportunities for other players. This is also a new change in the Rockets' tactics compared with last season.