After a rookie year that was scarce on playing time, Montrezl Harrell has started to blossom as part of the rejuvenated Houston Rockets.
Even as injuries have started to pile up, the Houston Rockets remain undeterred in their rise to the top end of the Western Conference.
Now at 24-9 on the season, the Rockets have only added to their blistering pace, despite being without key starters in recent weeks. One of those has been Patrick Beverley, who reignited the Rockets upon returning from knee surgery, but has since been in and out of the lineup.
However, the biggest absence right now for the Rockets is Clint Capela, who was coming into his own playing starting-level minutes before being sidelined with a fractured fibula almost two weeks ago.
With Capela out of the picture for some time, the Rockets have had to turn to two players in particular to fill his absence, one being a proven veteran big in Nene and the other being a relative newcomer who has been searching for a consistent opportunity.
Drafted 32nd overall in the 2015 NBA Draft, Montrezl Harrell‘s introduction to the NBA was a stark reality check after finishing his illustrious college career at the University of Louisvile .
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When Harrell got steady time to shine in his rookie season last year, it was playing for the team’s D-League, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.
In his 12 games with the Vipers, Harrell averaged 24.3 points per game, 9.3 rebounds per game and 2.4 blocks per game in his 38.9 minutes per game.
But that production didn’t pay off into steady playing time when he would return to the Rockets, even as their season spiraled into chaos.
Now with the changes in the locker room and coach Mike D’Antoni at the helm, Harrell’s gradually found his footing with the Rockets this season.
Already in his 24 games this year, Harrell has just eclipsed his minutes total from last year (379) by playing 15.9 minutes per game and averaging 7.7 points per game, along with 3.5 rebounds per game.
Along with that, Harrell currently holds the second-best net rating on the Rockets with plus-10.3 points per 100 possessions, trailing only Beverley, per NBA.com/stats.
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Despite his limitations on the offensive end, Harrell is starting to grow into a reliable small-ball center, perfect under D’Antoni’s system.
Harrell’s physical presence and growing efficiency to dive to the rim off of pick and rolls has slowly turned him into a weapon on that end of the floor. For example, in the 41 plays where he has been the roll man in a pick and roll, Harrell’s averaging 1.10 points per possession.
Capela’s injury has further helped Harrell rise on the team’s depth chart and he’s delivered quality minutes in the time since then as well as earning spot starts.
(Since Capela’s injury, Harrell is averaging 12.6 points per game, 4.2 rebounds per game and 1.2 blocks per game in 25.1 minutes per game.)
That’s not bad for a player who isn’t far removed from being on the outside looking in throughout his largely incomplete rookie year.
With Harrell earning his newfound minutes and then some, the Rockets couldn’t be happier with the progress he’s shown this year.
Considering the combo of Harrell and Nene have primarily held down the team’s big man minutes recently, it makes it all the sweeter for the team, especially as they weather the storm while Capela is out.
But no matter the timing of this, Harrell’s proving his worth with the Rockets right now in his sophomore season. Although it still may be under a limited capacity, it feels like it’s only a taste of what’s to come for the 22-year old.
