Ben DuBose

And if you're going to ultimately fix the problems with this team, you at least need to start with the right spirit.

You need to start with the right competitive fire.

And for this team to go out and take care of business against an undermanned Hawks team, I know the Rockets were a little bit undermanned themselves, but...

they're playing with the right respect for the game.

And I think that's where you've got to start.

Like, there's some problems, especially offensively, that in the aftermath of this first game, they've got to iron out.

But at least in contrast to December, this current version of the Rockets seems to be taking the games much more seriously.

And I think in the interim, that's something to celebrate, even if there are bigger challenges ahead.

Yeah, absolutely.

Both Jabari and Reed had five made shots and multiple made three-pointers, and that just goes so far to relieving the pressure on Kevin Durant and Alperin Shingun.

Shingun did not have an efficient shooting night, although I think you have to put an asterisk on this one.

He was questionable going in today with the ankle sprain, which he seemed to re-aggravate.

against the Spurs.

I think he was gutting it out because this Rockets team, especially the way last night ended, blowing a 16-point lead and losing by double digits, this would have been a bad one to lose.

And I think Shingun just wanted to give it whatever he had to get them this win.

And they're coming home for Dallas on Saturday night and they'll reevaluate in the next 24 hours, I'm sure.

Tonight, they got the win.

That's what matters.

And when you have this version of Jabari and Reed that is able to make some shots, including threes, it does so much to space the floor.

I mean, we talk about the way the Spurs, and I do think, you know, some of the issues in the second half against the Spurs, people ask the question, why doesn't every team defend the Rockets the way the Spurs did with the five just sort of sagging off a men and defending the rim?