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Rockets guard Jalen Green has experienced many ups and downs in his four-year NBA career.
In his first two seasons after being drafted at No. 2 overall in the 2021 first round, Green faced adversity while playing for a rebuilding franchise that lacked stability and a consistent winning mentality. During that span, the team won a combined 42 games while finishing in last place in the Western Conference at the conclusion of each season.
Now 23 years old, Green has become accustomed to overcoming difficult situations. He has demonstrated that many times in 2024-25 as the leading scorer on a Houston team that won the Southwest Division title and finished at No. 2 (52-30) in the West standings.
Friday night, with Houston down 3-2 and facing potential elimination in its first-round playoff series against Golden State, the Rockets will need Green to overcome all the adverse situations he will face versus a tough Warriors defense.
With a defensive scheme aimed at taking Green out of the offensive flow, Houston needs its young shooting guard to push through and become the dangerous offensive weapon he knows he can still be.
“I just have to be aggressive and not overthink as much,” Green told reporters during Friday’s shootaround from San Francisco. “It’s been five games now. I know I have to be aggressive, make the right reads, and be decisive.”
Golden State’s stifling defense has caused Green trouble in four of the five games played in the series (the lone exception being a 38-point outburst in a Game 2 victory). After averaging 21.0 points per game during the regular season, Green has averaged 14.6 points versus the Warriors while being held to single digits in three of those five games. He’s shooting below 40%, overall.
“I don’t think I’ve played good at all, for real,” Green said. “I had one game at the crib (Toyota Center), which was a pretty good game. But overall, I haven’t really been myself. But that’s okay. First time experience, I am not going to use that as an excuse or anything, but I’ve just gotta get back to being aggressive and stop overthinking.”
With a road win in Friday’s Game 6 at Chase Center, Green and the Rockets could force a decisive, winner-take-all Game 7 back at Houston’s Toyota Center.
“There is a mode, and I felt it in Game 2,” Green said regarding a playoff mindset. “Game 2, I felt that playoff mode, and it felt good when you are aggressive, talking, and shots are falling. I kind of fell away from that a little bit. I felt like I had it back in the ‘H’ (Houston), and I am going to try and get right back to it tonight.”
More: By the numbers: With 38 points in second career playoff game, Jalen Green in rare air
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Ahead of Game 6, Rockets star Jalen Green owns up to playoff struggles
Continue reading...
In his first two seasons after being drafted at No. 2 overall in the 2021 first round, Green faced adversity while playing for a rebuilding franchise that lacked stability and a consistent winning mentality. During that span, the team won a combined 42 games while finishing in last place in the Western Conference at the conclusion of each season.
Now 23 years old, Green has become accustomed to overcoming difficult situations. He has demonstrated that many times in 2024-25 as the leading scorer on a Houston team that won the Southwest Division title and finished at No. 2 (52-30) in the West standings.
Friday night, with Houston down 3-2 and facing potential elimination in its first-round playoff series against Golden State, the Rockets will need Green to overcome all the adverse situations he will face versus a tough Warriors defense.
With a defensive scheme aimed at taking Green out of the offensive flow, Houston needs its young shooting guard to push through and become the dangerous offensive weapon he knows he can still be.
“I just have to be aggressive and not overthink as much,” Green told reporters during Friday’s shootaround from San Francisco. “It’s been five games now. I know I have to be aggressive, make the right reads, and be decisive.”
Golden State’s stifling defense has caused Green trouble in four of the five games played in the series (the lone exception being a 38-point outburst in a Game 2 victory). After averaging 21.0 points per game during the regular season, Green has averaged 14.6 points versus the Warriors while being held to single digits in three of those five games. He’s shooting below 40%, overall.
“I don’t think I’ve played good at all, for real,” Green said. “I had one game at the crib (Toyota Center), which was a pretty good game. But overall, I haven’t really been myself. But that’s okay. First time experience, I am not going to use that as an excuse or anything, but I’ve just gotta get back to being aggressive and stop overthinking.”
With a road win in Friday’s Game 6 at Chase Center, Green and the Rockets could force a decisive, winner-take-all Game 7 back at Houston’s Toyota Center.
“There is a mode, and I felt it in Game 2,” Green said regarding a playoff mindset. “Game 2, I felt that playoff mode, and it felt good when you are aggressive, talking, and shots are falling. I kind of fell away from that a little bit. I felt like I had it back in the ‘H’ (Houston), and I am going to try and get right back to it tonight.”
More: By the numbers: With 38 points in second career playoff game, Jalen Green in rare air
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Ahead of Game 6, Rockets star Jalen Green owns up to playoff struggles
Continue reading...
