3 Lessons the Rockets learned from Fred VanVleet's absence vs Clippers

There is some concern that the Houston Rockets are too reliant on Fred VanVleet.

That's fine for now. If we're using a micro perspective, the Rockets want to make the playoffs in 2024-25. VanVleet is a seasoned veteran. He's on the roster—why not use him?

Zoom out a bit, and that question becomes easier to answer. The majority of this team's key players are barely old enough to order a beer in the United States. VanVleet is approaching "too old for the club". There's an incongruence between his timeline and the team's, so weening off of VanVleet could be best for the long run.

On Sunday, the Rockets got a taste of life without him. It (mostly) went well. They overcame a vastly undermanned Clippers team 117-106.

Here are three lessons they learned from VanVleet's absence.

1. It's harder to win the possession battle

Arguably, the offense looked more free without VanVleet. The Rockets leveraged their athleticism, ran more offense through Alperen Sengun, and generally played a fun game.

They also turned the ball over 20 times.

On the season, the team averages 13.2 turnovers per game. That's seventh in the NBA. That ball security has been instrumental to their success. The Rockets dominate teams on the glass and seldom turn the ball over. In turn, they're able to secure more possessions than their opponents on a near-nightly basis.

This is a key aspect of the team's game plan. That's not to say that this young core isn't on pace to eventually survive without VanVleet. It's merely an observation that when that day comes, it's likely to look different than it has in 2024-25.

2. Amen Thompson can create in the halfcourt

Sunday's game ball doesn't necessarily go to Thompson. Jalen Green had 31 points on 9/20 shooting from the field. He was the team's most dynamic option in the halfcourt.

Yet, we all know that Green can get hot. The Rockets are waiting to see if he can do it consistently. That said, questions about Thompson's ability to generate half-court offense persist.

On Sunday, he gave a resounding answer. Thompson had 22 points on 9/14 shooting to go with 4 assists. One of those dimes was a particularly impressive drive and kick where Thompson was able to make a bullet pass after having hung in the air for what felt like enough time to go grab a snack from the kitchen.

Otherwise, he was slashing to the basket at will no matter who was defending the paint for the Clippers. This was a highly encouraging game for anyone who's holding out hope that Thompson will develop as a point guard.

3. Aaron Holiday is a rotation player

It's been a trying season for Reed Sheppard. Nobody should come to definitive conclusions about a rookie's career, but as far as 2024-25 goes, Houston may not be able to rely on the Kentucky product. It might be time for Sheppard to get some reps with the G-League squad.

At least Aaron Holiday is lying in wait. He stepped up in VanVleet's absence. Holiday had 11 points on 3/6 shooting from the field in 19 minutes.

In some respects, Holiday is a poor man's VanVleet. He's a steady hand who doesn't take risks but doesn't make bad decisions either. He's small, but he makes a tremendous effort on defense and is a net positive on that end.

He's not part of the young core, but for the time being, he's a capable backup.