How Rockets’ Terrence Jones Fared Against Top-7 Power Forwards In Western Conference

Apr 30, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets forward Terrence Jones (6) is called for a foul during the second quarter as Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) attempts to drive the ball to the basket in game five of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Terrence Jones has already proven himself to be a versatile scorer at power forward. He finished hard and high at the rim, and he has a good ability to stretch the floor.

But for all that Jones is offensively, he has a much headier task to defend the litany of elite power forwards residing in the Western Conference.

Jones does have one thing working extremely in his favor: Dwight Howard. Having Howard to defend the other side of the paint renders Jones a lot less vulnerable, especially given No. 12’s proclivity to forcing turnovers and coming up with big blocks. Howard is not the acrobat he was in Orlando when he blocked nearly three shots a game in back-to-back seasons, but he is still a top-3 defender at center.

If Jones falters, Howard will make up for a lot of it. Howard managed the lowest block total he had since his third season in the NBA last year with just 1.8 per game.

The only deduction here is that Jones has a lot of work to do on his own, but against the best seven power forwards in the West last season (LaMarcus Aldridge, Dirk Nowitzki, Blake Griffin, Tim Duncan, David Lee, Zach Randolph and Anthony Davis), the Rockets were 12-8 in games which saw Jones and his counterpart receiving significant minutes (18 or more).

Jones succeeded most against Duncan and the Spurs, while Aldridge gave Jones and the Rockets migraine headaches.

Kevin Love was not included in this due to the fact he is no longer in the Western Conference.

But beyond teammates covering blunders, it bears question, can Jones indeed defend the best power forwards in the NBA?

Here is how he fared against a number of PFs:

Vs. LaMarcus Aldridge

DEC 12, 2013:
29 mins, 10 pts, 4 rebs, 1 ast
LA: 41 mins, 31 pts, 25 rebs, 2 asts, 2 stl, 2 blks
Rockets lose by 7

MAR 9, 2014
19 mins, 2 pts, 4 rebs, 1 ast
LA: 28 pts, 12 rebs, 2 blks
Rockets win by 5

Playoff starts:

Game 1

12 pts, 13 rebs, 2 ast, 1 stl, 2blk
LA: 46 pts, 18 rebs, 2 stl, 2 blk
Rockets lose by 2

Game 2

13 pts, 8 rebs, 1 ast, 2 stl
LA: 43 pts, 8 rebs, 1 ast, 3 blk
Rockets lose by 7

Jones Points: 37 (9.25 pg)
Jones Rebounds: 29 (7.25 pg)
Aldridge Points: 148 (37 pg)
Aldridge Rebounds: 61 (15.25 pg)

Rockets 1-3 in Aldridge-Jones

Nov 20, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Houston Rockets forward Terrence Jones (6) defends against Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) as he receives a pass int he post during the g second quarter at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Vs Dirk Nowitzki

NOV 20, 2013
32 mins, 18 pts, 2 reb, 2 ast
Dirk: 13 pts, 4 reb, 2 asts, 1 stl
Rockets win by 3

DEC 23, 2013
10 pts, 4 reb, 1 asts
Dirk: 31 pts, 6 rebs, 3 asts, 1 stl, 2 blk
Rockets lose by 7

JAN 29, 2014
16 pts, 5 rebs, 1 ast, 2 stl
Dirk: 38 pts, 17 rebs, 3 asts
Rockets win by 2

Jones Total Points: 44 (14.6 pg)
Jones Total Rebs: 11 (3.75 pg)
Nowitzki Total Points: 82 (27.3 pg)
Nowitzki Total Rebounds: 27 (9 pg)

Rockets 2-1 in Dirk-Jones

Vs. Blake Griffin

Only significant matchup:

FEB 26, 2014
19 mins, 4 pts, 4 rebs, 1 asts, 1 stl
Griffin: 23 pts, 16 rebs, 3 asts, 2 stil, 1 blk
Clippers win by 8

Rockets 0-1 in Griffin-Jones Matchups

Apr 14, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) shoots during the second quarter as Houston Rockets forward Terrence Jones (6) defends at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Vs. Tim Duncan

NOV 30, 2013
10 pts, 16 rebs, 1 stl, 1 blk
Duncan: 20 pts, 8 rebs, 3 asts, 1 stl, 3 blk
Rockets win by 6

DEC 25, 2013
42 mins, 21 pts, 14 rebs, 1 asts, 1 stl, 3 blks
Duncan: 11 pts, 14 rebs, 5 asts, 1 stl, 6 blks
Rockets win by 13

JAN 28, 2014
38 mins, 21 pts, 9 reb, 1 stl, 1 blk
Duncan 30 mins, 12 pts, 14 rebs, 2 asts, 1 stl, 4 blks
Rockets win by 7

APR 14, 2014
39 mins, 20 pts, 11 rebs, 1 asts, 2 stls
Duncan: 12 pts, 9 rebs, 2 asts
Rockets win by 6

Jones total Points: 72 (18 ppg)
Jones rebounds: 50 (12.5 pg)
Duncan total Points: 55 (14.25 pg)
Duncan total rebounds: 43 (10.75 pg)

Rockets 4-0 vs Spurs in Duncan-Jones matchups.

Vs David Lee

DEC 13, 2013
34 mins, 7 pts, 8 rebs, 2 stl
Lee: 37 mins, 23 pts, 10 rebs, 1 stl, 2 blk
Rockets win by 4

FEB 20, 2014
18 mins, 3 pts, 6 rebs
Lee: 45 mins, 28 pts, 14 rebs, 2 stl, 1 blk
Rockets lose by 3

Jones Total Points: 10 (5 pg)
Jones Total Rebounds: 14 (7 pg)
Lee Total Points: 65 (32.5 pg)
Lee Total Rebs: 24 (12 pg)

Rockets 1-1 in Lee-Jones matchup

Jan 25, 2014; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies power forward Zach Randolph (50) and Houston Rockets power forward Terrence Jones (6) fight for a rebound during the first quarter at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

Vs Zach Randolph

NOV 25, 2013
11 pts, 5 rebs, 2 asts, 2 blks
Z-Bo: 13 pts, 6 rebs, 2 asts
Rockets win by 7

DEC 26, 2013

31 mins, 20 pts, 5 rebs, 2 blks
Zo-Bo: 23 pts, 17 rebs, 5 asts
Rockets win by 8

JAN 24, 2014
27 mins, 11 pts, 12 rebs, 2 blks
Z-Bo: 15 pts, 8 rebs, 3 asts, 1 stl
Rockets lose by 1

JAN 25, 2014
29 mins, 8 pts, 6 rebs, 3 asts
Z-Bo: 15 pts, 17 rebs, 3 asts
Rockets lose by 18

Jones Total Points: 19 (9.5 pg)
Jones Total Rebounds: 18 (9.0 pg)
Randolph Total Points: 30 (15 pg)
Randolph Total Rebounds: 25 (12.5 pg)

Rockets 2-2 in Randolph-Jones matchup

Jan 15, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Houston Rockets power forward Terrence Jones (6) shoots over New Orleans Pelicans power forward Anthony Davis (23) during the second half of a game at the New Orleans Arena. The Rockets defeated the Pelicans 103-100. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Vs Anthony Davis

DEC 8, 2013
17 pts, 8 rebs, 2 asts, 3 blks
Anthony Davis: 18 pts, 16 rebs, 1 stl, 1 blk
Rockets win by 9

JAN 15, 2014
25 pts, 8 rebs, 1 asts, 1 stl, 6 blks
AD: 24 pts, 7 rebs, 2 stl, 1 blk
Rockets win by 3

Jones Total Pts: 42 (21 pg)
Jones Total rebs: 16 (8 pg)
Davis Total Pts: 42 (21 pg)
Davis Total Rebs: 23 (11.5 pg)

Rockets 2-0 in Davis-Jones matchups