In a recent Western Conference matchup, the visiting Rockets easily defeated the Trail Blazers 125-103. This victory brought the Rockets' record to 28 wins and 13 losses, solidifying their second place in the West while extending their lead over the third-place Grizzlies to 1.5 games. Compared to the tense and exciting Western Conference standings, this is quite a significant lead.
Unbeknownst to many, the Rockets did not even play at full strength in this rout against the Trail Blazers! Otherwise, the Trail Blazers might have suffered a crushing defeat by as many as 40 points. Despite leading by double digits after three quarters, the Rockets surprisingly benched their top scorer, Jalen Green, in the fourth quarter! Even so, the Rockets still managed to secure a resounding 22-point victory, which speaks volumes about the team's terrifying offensive firepower!
Of course, Coach Udoka had his reasons for this decision. With an opponent far weaker than themselves and already leading by double digits, it made sense to give their top scorer ample rest so he could perform better in the next game. Therefore, benching Jalen Green after three quarters was a sensible move. Ultimately, Jalen Green's stats for the game were locked in after playing 29 minutes across three quarters, shooting 10 of 17 from the field, 4 of 6 from three-point range, and 2 of 2 from the free-throw line, tallying 26 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal, with a game-high plus-minus of +23!
Frankly speaking, Udoka's decision to bench the red-hot Jalen Green in the fourth quarter was bold! Typically, coaches would keep such a player on the court to pad their stats, but Udoka went against the grain, which may be why he has been able to elevate the Rockets to second place in the West. Udoka's control over the team is now so adept that he knows exactly how to effectively and reasonably use Jalen Green as their ace in the hole.
According to statistics, Jalen Green played a total of 9 games in January, averaging an impressive 29.8 points per game with a true shooting percentage of 67.7%, including 40 out of 81 three-point attempts for a remarkable 49.4% accuracy! Notably, Jalen Green scored 20+ points in each of these 9 games, performing with rock-solid consistency, thus setting a new personal career record (previously the longest streak of 20+ points was 8 games).
It's no exaggeration to say that if Jalen Green continues at this pace, he stands a good chance of being selected as an All-Star reserve this year. Moreover, this will also help him build capital for pursuing a max contract when he opts out of his contract in two years! Last October, Jalen Green chose to sign a 3-year, $105 million rookie extension contract with the Rockets, with the final year being a player option. It's reported that the reason Jalen Green opted for a 2+1 contract instead of a five-year long-term deal was to pursue a max contract extension in two years. Consequently, Jalen Green became the first player in league history to sign a 2+1 rookie extension contract with a nine-figure total contract value.
Choosing a 2+1 contract over a potential five-year long-term deal indeed requires courage and audacity, as it means betting big on one's future self! This gamble involves not only betting on delivering top-tier performances but also on maintaining long-term health. Otherwise, the pursuit of a max contract could all go up in smoke! However, it seems that Jalen Green has already won a significant portion of this bet. If he keeps playing like this, there's a high likelihood that Jalen Green will secure the max contract extension he desires from the Rockets in two years. What are your thoughts on this?