EVERY-THING SPORTS
There's no getting around it, the Rockets must feed their future
Mar 9, 2022, 11:02 am
Let's see what the young guys can do with more playing time. Composite image by Jack Brame.
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The Rockets beat the Southwest division leading and second place Western Conference Memphis Grizzlies 123-112 right here in Houston on Sunday night. It gave Rockets' fans a sliver of hope and glimpse into the future in what has otherwise been a dismal season so far. The next night, they lost to Eastern Conference leading Miami Heat 123-106 in Miami. That game got away from them in the second and third quarters after they had a lead coming out of the first quarter. This is still a very young team in need of growth and development. They may not have all the right pieces in place, but they have enough of them in order to get started on building in the right direction.
When trying to grow and develop a young team, they need playing time, practice together, and as many reps as possible in live game action. Of course, health and work ethic are important, but being thrown in the fire and tested (hopefully passing said tests) is the best way to gain that necessary experience. When they selected Jalen Green with the number two overall pick, it was assumed everything would be built around him. So far, Christian Wood has remained the center point while Green and others have been reduced to second fiddles.
Green has recently seen a slight uptick in his shots, minutes, and production overall. The more he’s played, he’s played well and shot a much better percentage. In March, he’s averaged 21.8ppg, 4.0rpg, 3.8apg (1.4TOs), 51.2% FG, 34.2% 3pt, and a 59.9% true shooting percentage. Kevin Porter Jr has had a decent March as well: 19.0ppg, 3.8rpg, 5.3apg (2.8TOs), 1.0spg, 43.5% FG, 34.3% 3pt, 54.0% true shooting percentage. When I watch the Rockets, I often see Wood commanding the most touches and shots. Lately, Green and KPJ have been a bit more assertive.
Another guy who’s been seeing more action and proving himself has been Alperen Sengun. In February and March, he’s averaged more than 20 minutes a game, about 10ppg and 6rpg. The more he plays, the better I like his game. His footwork was decent, but you can tell he’s been working with Hakeem Olajuwon to tighten it up and fine tune some things. His basketball IQ and passing ability jumps off the screen, especially in pick & roll or post situations. If he develops his outside shot to be more consistent and stretches it out to the three-point line, he’ll be even more dangerous.
Initially, I wanted Wood to stay and grow with the other core members of the roster. I was wrong, changed course, and saw the light. All it took was for me to key in on Sengun’s ability to be a better fit with Green and KPJ over Wood. He’s more unselfish and seems to have a better attitude. Wood is too worried about getting his and making sure people know he’s never at fault. He whines and cries and points fingers and always has the most incredulous look when something goes wrong when he’s involved. Sengun on the other hand, is fun-loving, carefree, and seems like he really enjoys the game.
Coach Stephen Silas has been playing these youngsters more and trusting them in key situations. Josh Christopher is another youngster who’s been playing well at times and showing potential. The work he puts in before and after games is impressive for a rookie. Coach Silas has grown to trust these kids with handling key situations. Seeing them grow and realize their potential is something I hope he gets to see to the finish line. Former players he’s coached in the past have all credited him with helping them grow. Look no further than right up I-45 at Luka Dončić, who heaped praise on Silas when he took the Rockets’ job.
Ultimately, that decision will be up to owner Tilman Fertitta and general manager Rafael Stone. Fertitta will determine whether Stone keeps his job if he can buy the best groceries to allow Silas to cook a good meal. The way that meal turns out will determine who stays and goes. Here’s to hoping this is worthy of a Michelin Award and not a 1-star rating on Yelp.
It’s May 1, and the Astros are turning heads—but not for the reasons anyone expected. Their resurgence, driven not by stars like Yordan Alvarez or Christian Walker, but by a cast of less-heralded names, is writing a strange and telling early-season story.
Christian Walker, brought in to add middle-of-the-order thump, has yet to resemble the feared hitter he was in Arizona. Forget the narrative of a slow starter—he’s never looked like this in April. Through March and April of 2025, he’s slashing a worrying .196/.277/.355 with a .632 OPS. Compare that to the same stretch in 2024, when he posted a .283 average, .496 slug, and a robust .890 OPS, and it becomes clear: this is something more than rust. Even in 2023, his April numbers (.248/.714 OPS) looked steadier.
What’s more troubling than the overall dip is when it’s happening. Walker is faltering in the biggest moments. With runners in scoring position, he’s hitting just .143 over 33 plate appearances, including 15 strikeouts. The struggles get even more glaring with two outs—.125 average, .188 slugging, and a .451 OPS in 19 such plate appearances. In “late and close” situations, when the pressure’s highest, he’s practically disappeared: 1-for-18 with a .056 average and a .167 OPS.
His patience has waned (only 9 walks so far, compared to 20 by this time last year), and for now, his presence in the lineup feels more like a placeholder than a pillar.
The contrast couldn’t be clearer when you look at José Altuve—long the engine of this franchise—who, in 2024, delivered in the moments Walker is now missing. With two outs and runners in scoring position, Altuve hit .275 with an .888 OPS. In late and close situations, he thrived with a .314 average and .854 OPS. That kind of situational excellence is missing from this 2025 squad—but someone else may yet step into that role.
And yet—the Astros are winning. Not because of Walker, but in spite of him.
Houston’s offense, in general, hasn’t lit up the leaderboard. Their team OPS ranks 23rd (.667), their slugging 25th (.357), and they sit just 22nd in runs scored (117). They’re 26th in doubles, a rare place for a team built on gap-to-gap damage.
But where there’s been light, it hasn’t come from the usual spots. Jeremy Peña, often overshadowed in a lineup full of stars, now boasts the team’s highest OPS at .791 (Isaac Paredes is second in OPS) and is flourishing in his new role as the leadoff hitter. Peña’s balance of speed, contact, aggression, and timely power has given Houston a surprising tone-setter at the top.
Even more surprising: four Astros currently have more home runs than Yordan Alvarez.
And then there’s the pitching—Houston’s anchor. The rotation and bullpen have been elite, ranking 5th in ERA (3.23), 1st in WHIP (1.08), and 4th in batting average against (.212). In a season where offense is lagging and clutch hits are rare, the arms have made all the difference.
For now, it’s the unexpected contributors keeping Houston afloat. Peña’s emergence. A rock-solid pitching staff. Role players stepping up in quiet but crucial ways. They’re not dominating, but they’re grinding—and in a sluggish AL West, that may be enough.
Walker still has time to find his swing. He showed some signs of life against Toronto and Detroit. If he does, the Astros could become dangerous. If he doesn’t, the turnaround we’re witnessing will be credited to a new cast of unlikely faces. And maybe, that’s the story that needed to be written.
We have so much more to discuss. Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday!
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