Are the Rockets offense and defense integrated yet not complete? Can DFS improve by one level after its comeback?

Translator's Note: This article was originally published by SBNation, and the author is HollySturm. The data in the article are as of the time of publication of the original article (November 11, local time). The opinions in the article have nothing to do with the translator and the platform.

At present, the Houston Rockets still have not been able to achieve the ideal state of all members playing healthy. This situation will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on the team's tactical deployment and overall competitiveness in the new season.

Looking back on the important operations this offseason, striker Dorian Finney-Smith reached a four-year long-term contract with the Houston Rockets worth a total of US$53 million. The terms of this carefully designed contract show that the salary in the first two seasons is fully guaranteed, while the third and fourth years of the contract have non-fully guaranteed clauses, especially in the last year of the contract, which also includes a flexible design of player options. The addition of this wing player known for his 3D is expected to bring significant improvements to the Rockets' offensive and defensive system: not only will it enhance the threat of long shots from the outside, but more importantly, it will greatly enhance the team's overall defensive toughness. Regrettably, however, just a few months after the signing was completed, Dorian underwent surgical treatment for an ankle injury. This sudden situation directly caused the Rockets to lose one of the most valuable defensive cores in the team at the beginning of the new season, which had a big impact on the team's defensive system.

Since Finney-Smith was injured and underwent surgery, the Rockets management, coaching staff and medical team have not announced much in public about the latest progress in his physical recovery. The team has not yet announced a specific timetable for his return, but it is worth noting that head coach Uduka revealed in an interview on October 18 that Finney-Smith's recovery progress has indeed lagged behind the original plan. According to the current situation, before the Rockets officially announce through official channels that Finney-Smith has resumed team training, the team will track his recovery through a "weekly evaluation" method.

It should be noted that the Houston Rockets showed impressive defensive strength last season. According to statistics from StatMuse, the team's defensive efficiency value was approximately 110.8, which was at the upper level of the league at the time and proved that the Rockets had built a competitive defensive system. Based on this foundation, the Rockets management and coaching staff are looking forward to further consolidating and improving the team's defensive strength after Finney-Smith returns from injury. The reason why there are such high expectations for Finney-Smith is that he has proven his positive impact on the team's defense many times in his past career. Judging from historical data, when Finney-Smith played for other teams before, as long as he was on the court, the net efficiency of his team would show a significant improvement trend. This data fully proves the forward player's two-way influence on the game: he can not only change the opponent's offensive rhythm through defense, but also create more space advantages for the team on the offensive end, and this comprehensiveness is the most precious asset in the modern basketball system.

The good news is that during Finney-Smith's absence, the Rockets' defensive performance still maintained a certain level. According to the latest data from StatMuse, the team's current defensive efficiency value is 113.5, temporarily ranking tenth in the league. Judging from the rankings, the Rockets still maintain a defensive level in the middle and upper reaches of the league. This also means that the defensive loopholes caused by Finney-Smith's absence have been made up to a certain extent by the team adjusting tactics and improving defensive performance of other players. The impact of his absence seems to have become less worrying. Even so, fans and analysts familiar with the Rockets know that after Finney-Smith returns from injury, the team's defensive level can still reach a new level.

Smith's superb defensive basketball IQ will greatly help this young team improve its defensive rotation system, especially in the execution of complex tactics such as pick-and-roll defense. With the exception of Kevin Durant, most of the current Rockets players lack deep experience in the playoffs. This is particularly obvious in defensive decision-making at critical moments. The defensive system created by coach Uduka emphasizes the toughness of physical confrontation and the flexibility of defensive positions, and Finney-Smith's technical characteristics are highly consistent with this tactical concept. During his absence, the Rockets have had to rely more on alternatives such as sink defense or zone defense. However, both tactics have obvious limitations: retreating defense can easily leave space for opponents to shoot three-point shots from the outside, while zone defense requires extremely high judgment and coordination on passing routes between players, and young players are prone to loopholes when executing. Therefore, when Finney-Smith can return to the game healthy, it is foreseeable that the defensive performance of the Rockets' first line of defense will be significantly improved when dealing with opponents' offensive points with the ball (especially core players on the outside), and the entire defensive system will operate more smoothly.