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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Reynaldo López struck out seven over six scoreless innings, Orlando Arcia homered and the Atlanta Braves won their third straight, 6-2 over the Houston Astros on Tuesday night.
López (2-0) allowed four hits and walked one in his third straight sterling outing to start the season.
“It’s like I’ve always said, for me, the important thing is to focus,” López said through an interpreter. “To have the focus during the outings and then, to be able to locate those pitches.”
He has given up one run in 18 innings for an ERA of 0.50.
“He threw the ball really well against a really good hitting club,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. “Another solid one.”
Arcia hit a solo home run to left in the second and a sacrifice fly in the seventh.
Luis Guillorme and backup catcher Chadwick Tromp each hit a two-run double in the ninth to put the Braves ahead 6-0.
“Tromp has done a good job ever since we’ve been bringing him in these situations and filling in,” Snitker said. “I’ve got all the confidence in the world in him back there. ... He’s an aggressive hitter. He’s knocked in some big runs for us in the limited time that he’s played.”
Kyle Tucker homered for the Astros leading off the ninth against Aaron Bummer, and Mauricio Dubón had a two-out RBI single to cut the lead to four. After Bummer walked Chas McCormick to put two on, Raisel Iglesias induced a groundout by Victor Caratini to end it and secure his fourth save.
“They pitched well, and our guys are grinding out at-bats,” Houston manager Joe Espada said. “Even in the ninth inning there, we’re grinding, fighting until the end.”
Hunter Brown (0-3) yielded two runs on five hits with three strikeouts and three walks in six innings. Brown allowed nine runs in two-thirds of an inning in his previous start, last Thursday against Kansas City.
Brown said he executed better Tuesday than he had in his previous two starts.
“He mixed all his pitches well,” Espada said. “The breaking ball was effective. He threw some cutters in on the hands to some of those lefties. He mixed his pitches really well. That was a really strong performance.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Braves: 2B Ozzie Albies was placed on the 10-day injured list with a broken right big toe. IF David Fletcher had his contract selected from Triple-A Gwinnett to take Albies’ place on the roster.
Astros: RHP Justin Verlander (right shoulder inflammation) threw a side session Tuesday, but Houston will wait until Wednesday to see how Verlander feels before deciding whether he will make his first start this weekend against the Nationals, Espada said. ... RHP Luis Garcia (right elbow surgery) threw around 20-25 pitches off the bullpen mound, and RHP José Urquidy (right forearm strain) also threw off the mound, Espada said. ... LHP Framber Valdez (left elbow soreness) played catch off flat ground.
UP NEXT
Atlanta LHP Max Fried (1-0, 8.74 ERA) starts Wednesday in the series finale opposite RHP J.P. France (0-2, 8.22).