On the season, Houston is 3-19 (.136) without Porter, which equates to a win pace of only 11 games over a full 82-game campaign. Besides leading the Rockets in assists (5.7) on a per-game basis and ranking second in scoring (18.5 points), Houston has also clearly been a better team with Porter on the floor. Regardless, head coach Stephen Silas, who announced Porter’s return in his pregame media availability, is clearly happy to have his point guard back. Thus, it remains to be seen how Porter navigates another injury to the same leg. Porter’s left leg was already compromised after he missed seven weeks with a left foot contusion, which is likely to cause him some pain for the rest of the 2022-23 NBA season. was back in Houston’s starting lineup at point guard for Saturday’s game between the host Rockets and visiting Chicago Bulls. His growth throughout the season was nearly as extensive as the rookies’, even if there remains a great deal still to prove.After missing one game with a left thigh contusion, Kevin Porter Jr. Though Porter was in his third season, it was his first full season in the NBA. ![]() Still, as Porter took greater ownership of the Rockets’ rebuilding, he seemed to grow into the role enough to give the Rockets reason to believe he can be a foundational piece. Still, there were incidents that could cause concern, from a halftime tirade on New Year’s Day to a late-season game when he stopped playing in frustration. When Porter became more efficient, it allowed the Rockets to hope that some of his early-season shooting issues were the aberration, making him increasingly likely to succeed whether as a starting point guard or instant-offensive sixth man.Īssessment: Porter made significant progress in managing his emotions, an issue he recognized and has described as a goal the way others talk about improving their range shooting or ballhandling. Green’s success as a scorer was a good sign in that it came while Porter was also more aggressively looking for his shot. ![]() They can extend his contract as it heads to the fourth season of his rookie deal but could want more time, knowing they will have Bird rights and the right to match any offer he receives as a free agent, and to do that with a relatively small cap hold that will not interfere with their free agency goals after next season. What’s ahead: The Rockets got a great deal of information about Porter’s potential as a primary ballhandler but not enough to consider anything definitive. ![]() The Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan Feigen sizes up the NBA playoffs and James Harden’s playoff reputation as he tries to lead the 76ers to a championship. He was far better defensively than in his first season with the Rockets but will need to continue to grow significantly on that end. Otherwise, he generally took care of the ball better late in the season than when he was initially handed the keys. He averaged three turnovers in that stretch, but that was with one eight-turnover game. Porter was his best when he was most aggressive, averaging 18.9 points after the All-Star break and 28.7 points on 48 percent shooting and 40.3 percent 3-point shooting in the final seven games after the Rockets benched their veterans. He can be a good passer, but his passing is set up by the threat of his scoring, in keeping with most current lead guards, rather than the other way around. Porter is not in the mold of the traditional point guard. It did allow Porter to progress nearly as much as his rookie teammate. What we learned: The plan to bench John Wall for the season and put the ball and Rockets’ offense in Kevin Porter Jr.’s hands did not answer every question the Rockets might have had about whether he can be Jalen Green’s backcourt partner for years to come. Key stats: Averaged 15.6 points and 6.2 assists, making 41.5 percent of his shots and 37.5 percent of his 3-pointers. Contract status: Entering the final season of his rookie contract, worth $3.2 million.
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