Houston Beat Dallas by 18. I'm More Interested in How They Did It.
Houston Rockets
Dallas MavericksThe preseason scoreboard matters less than the combinations that might carry into the season.
Houston beat Dallas 135–117 in the first of their preseason games in Macao. Alperen Şengün posted 16 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, Fred VanVleet scored 17, and Cooper Flagg had 19 for Dallas.
That Şengün line jumps out because it tells a story beyond scoring. A big who can facilitate makes everybody else harder to guard. And VanVleet returning gives Houston another organizer who can keep the offense from becoming five talented players taking turns.
Flagg's 19 points are worth noting too. But a preseason game is a terrible place to declare what somebody's rookie season will look like. Minutes, defensive schemes and priorities are different.
My question is whether Houston's next leap comes from better chemistry rather than one dramatic move. I'd rather watch how the pieces fit than spend October pretending the first preseason score settles anything.
SOURCE REPORTINGRead original reporting and verify detailsOriginal source used for factual reporting. Commentary and analysis are 6ixtv's.
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