Jalen Green is simply unstoppable, end of story.
As mentioned before, the Rockets have defense, physicality, rebounding, and the ability to pressure the rim without committing many turnovers—though that last point didn’t hold true tonight. The only thing they usually lack is scoring ability, so when their shots start falling, they look incredibly strong.
Tonight, against the Grizzlies, the Rockets’ performance wasn’t as sharp as the last game:
They maintained their aggressive offensive rebounding, but they didn’t force as many turnovers through hustle plays or dominate in transition offense. Instead, the Grizzlies disrupted them with well-timed defensive pressure in the middle and around the paint, forcing several turnovers. Being a strong transition team themselves, the Grizzlies capitalized on those opportunities and punished the Rockets in transition.
As a result, the Rockets weren’t in control for most of the game. Alperen Şengün and Fred VanVleet weren’t at their best offensively, and without creating points through transition, the Rockets relied on their still-solid scoring efficiency. However, their inability to limit the Grizzlies’ offense left them playing catch-up for much of the game.
If the game had continued along this trajectory, it would have been a predictable storyline: the Rockets ride hot shooting to a win in Game 1, cool off in Game 2, and the teams split the back-to-back series.
But Jalen Green and Amen Thompson turned out to be the wild cards. Green hit a series of contested jumpers—shots he likely wouldn’t make consistently over the course of the season. Meanwhile, Thompson’s explosive athleticism punished the Grizzlies’ weak-side defense at the rim. While Memphis was a step slow to adjust, it’s also worth noting that Thompson’s physical gifts allow him to exploit those gaps better than most players, especially with the Rockets’ perimeter threats keeping defenders occupied up top.
That said, the Grizzlies still had opportunities to win. As I mentioned previously, Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. (3J) are theoretically a stronger duo than Jalen Green and Şengün, but the Grizzlies needed them to deliver in the clutch. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen tonight.
Jackson is still learning how to consistently dominate his matchups, which will be critical for his growth. Meanwhile, Morant’s defense remains a liability, and when he’s not outplaying Green offensively, the Grizzlies end up on the back foot.
A Side Note
I’ve noticed a growing divide in how people discuss Ja Morant, particularly about his irreplaceability to the Grizzlies and whether he or Jaren Jackson Jr. is the team’s true cornerstone.
While the answer might not matter much on paper, this kind of debate often signals deeper issues for a team whose core has been together for several years. Young teams typically establish their leader before taking the next step. Even the Rockets, who still face similar questions about their core, are earlier in their development cycle than the Grizzlies.
Memphis has dealt with injuries and setbacks for years, shuffling role players in and out, but the trio of Morant, Jackson, and Desmond Bane has been together for a while now.
Jackson’s continued improvement is obviously a positive, and his dynamic with Morant—like Şengün and Green—shouldn’t be seen as a rivalry. Any improvement from either player benefits the team as a whole.
However, Morant’s unique skill set and star power make him the team’s defining figure. His level of play often sparks discussions about whether the Grizzlies are better off without him, which is telling.
As one of the most marketable and electrifying young stars in the league, Morant has incredible potential. Here’s hoping he can take his game to even greater heights.
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