Houston Rockets Summer League: Chris Clemons stars despite blowout loss

The Houston Rockets just finished getting decimated by the rival Dallas Mavericks. Despite that, though, there was one player from the team that really showed out and turned some heads.

The Houston Rockets did not look very good in their first Summer League game of the offseason. They lost big time to the Dallas Mavericks and there were quite a few negatives throughout it.

Despite that, though, there were some good things to take away from the blowout loss. Some young guys really showed that they have some good potential to contribute while some disappointed. Let’s look at how this game went:

Isaiah Hartenstein

Isaiah Hartenstein enters the Summer League with a lot to prove. He is going into his third professional year here with the Rockets’ organization and they are likely hoping that he can contribute this year.

Harty has the opportunity to become the backup center next year on a Rockets team that isn’t very deep at that position. He’s a big guy that has playmaking ability and has shown the skills needed to rebound at a high level.

Tonight, he had an … interesting game. Hartenstein finished with 20 points and 13 rebounds with 3 blocks. That certainly sounds great, but the numbers are a bit deceiving. He still has room to grow and made some bad plays on defense, one of the reasons the Mavericks handled the paint with authority. We’ll see if he can improve a bit as the Summer League continues tomorrow.

Chris Clemons

The star of the show, though, was Chris Clemons. Man, did that guy impress! At 5’9 and undrafted, he has a ton to prove as he tries to make his way into the league.

His first step to securing a roster spot was quite successful. He dropped 25 points, making 7 of his 13 shots from downtown. He was making open and contested shots alike, something that will be very important for him as an undersized guard.

He was flat out exciting to watch, and even caught an alley-oop early in the game! He’s the guy to watch as the Rockets continue throughout the summer. Be sure to check him out!