The Houston Rockets remain legal contenders for the new season despite changing the odds for the championship.
Their outlook changed when primary point guard Fred Van Vriet suffered Achilles’ injury and put him aside throughout the campaign.
Without Vanvleet, many analysts believe Rockets lacks primary ball handlers and playmakers.
Backup options like Reed Sheppard and Aaron Holiday have no experience in playing such a critical role for competing teams.
Analysts warned the Rockets not to repeat the mistakes the Miami Heat and the Minnesota Timberwolves made.
Trade proposals have emerged, with names like Payton Pritchard and the recent Jrue Holiday as potential solutions.
However, Rockets head coach Idoka pointed to the team’s record of Vanbeat’s absence last season and dismissed concerns about the situation.
“We saw that. Fred missed 19 last year, and we went 11am and 8 in those games. And out of those 19 games we took a fourth quarter lead in 17 of those games,” Udoka explained.
“So it wasn’t just Fred, it was obviously Amen, sometimes Alpi (Sengung) and Jalen.
The coaches have already demonstrated the ability of multiple players to handle playmaking responsibilities in Vanvite’s absence, and highlighted that they provide organizational confidence in management without starting point guard.
Udoka didn’t hide any potential plans to increase Reed Shepherd’s responsibility, despite the sophomore entering his second season alone.
Armentompson also represents a viable option as the Rockets’ new primary ball handler, but whether this constitutes an ideal situation should be determined through actual competition.
“Amen, Reed and others like I said, we see it on the committee and understand it, but the fact that they did it and that they had some success without him last year is good,” Udoka concluded.
The coach’s approach suggests plans to distribute playmaking obligations rather than forcing the Rockets to force one player into the role of Vanvleet, and utilizes their depth to maintain the championship contest despite a serious injury setback.