3 Goals for Houston Rockets center Isaiah Hartenstein

2. Run the floor as much as possible

Rockets Head Coach Mike D’Antoni has made it clear that he wants his team to pick up the pace dramatically this season. His club was near the bottom of the league last season in pace of play (27th), which is rare for a D’Antoni-coached team. Already over their six preseason games, Houston has upped its pace of play to sixth in the league so far.

With Russell Westbrook and James Harden on the floor, it’s going to be almost impossible to be effective with them unless you run well, which is why Clint Capela thrives alongside them. Capela is one of the best big men in the league in terms of running the break after a defensive stop or even a made basket.

While Hartenstein likely won’t be sharing the floor with Westbrook or Harden very often, it’s not as if his likely point guard partner Chris Clemons is any slower. Clemons has shown just as much of a frenetic pace as Westbrook when he’s gotten time in the preseason.

Any time Isaiah will be getting early on in the season will likely be garbage time minutes when the game is well in hand, which could happen on nights where Houston’s offense is firing on all cylinders. No matter who he is out on the floor with, he should find success if he runs the floor, as the roster is full of players who thrive in transition with the shot as well as the pass.

Next: No. 1