ROCKET SCIENCE
Let's discuss the newest addition to the Houston Rockets
Nov 21, 2020, 12:20 pm
The Rockets made a big move on Friday night. Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Christian Wood signed a three-year $41 million dollar contract with the Houston Rockets on Friday night. About five years ago, the Rockets signed Woods after going undrafted in 2015. Woods played his college basketball at UNLV before entering the NBA. After the 2015 Summer League, the Rockets waived Woods before he started his career in Philadelphia.
Free agent F Christian Wood has agreed to a three-year, $41M deal with the Houston Rockets, sources tell ESPN.— Adrian Wojnarowski (@Adrian Wojnarowski) 1605928421.0
Woods became an NBA journeyman as he improved his game on five different teams. He played in the NBA G-League too, which helped build his confidence. The newly signed Rocket averaged 23 points per game, 11 rebounds, and two blocks in the G-League. As Woods went back and forth from the NBA to G-League, his shooting improved.
Woods shot a career-high 39 percent from the perimeter while averaging 13 points per game with the Detroit Pistons. When Andre Drummond was traded from the Pistons to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Woods increased his play tremendously. He was averaging 22 points per game, shooting 41 percent from the perimeter with 10 rebounds in 34 minutes. The Pistons only had 15 games left in the season before the NBA got furloughed because of COVID-19, so the sample size isn't huge.
Hopefully, the Rockets find a way for Russell Westbrook and James Harden to stay and play with Woods. He can stretch the floor easily because of his athletic frame at 6'10 and 7'4 wingspan. The Rockets got more than a traditional big man because of his ability to create 15 ft from the basket. Woods can also become a great pick-n-roll and pick-n-pop partner to Westbrook and Harden if they decide to stay with the Rockets. The excitement is real because of the upside and ability Woods could add to the Rockets' offense.
Christian Wood @Chriswood_5 was heating up right before the league shutdown averaging 28.2pts in the last 4 games..… https://t.co/3mXWpWVUqv— Swish Cultures (@Swish Cultures) 1594400871.0
Even with the excitement around Woods, the Rockets are still looking to add to their depth. Recently the Rockets drafted Kenyon Martin Jr, spoke with DeMarcus Cousins, and could possibly move Westbrook to the Washington Wizards for John Wall. Stay tuned, because anything could happen at a moment's notice.
Rafael Stone has been impressive so far as GM for the Rockets, but hopefully, more moves are made as the Western Conference continues to get more difficult with the Lakers constantly improving their roster.
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.