3 stats from Houston Rockets' preseason opener that fans will love

The Houston Rockets lost to the Jazz in their first preseason contest. Frankly, it doesn't really matter.

Sorry, Jazz fans (if you happen to find yourself here). The Rockets spent the first two quarters thrashing the Jazz. Head coach Ime Udoka opted to clear the bench, and he didn't put the starters back on. Why?

Simple - this game didn't have any stakes in the first place.

The Rockets' starters looked fantastic. There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic following this contest.

Here are three key stats that Rockets fans should take heed of.

1. Fred VanVleet's point guard play

We're cheating here. We're going to include several stats from VanVleet.

Sue me.

VanVleet didn't shoot much in this contest. He went 0/4 from the field and finished with two points - each coming from the free-throw line. Why would anyone be optimistic about that?

Well, VanVleet had 8 assists - and 0 turnovers. That's indicative of strong point guard play. More importantly, it's exactly what the Rockets need.

Eventually, this group will have to reduce its reliance on VanVleet. The Rockets will be looking to build around their young core. VanVleet was always meant to be a placeholder, not a fixture. If he can play the role of a distributor rather than a primary option, he'll be easier to part with when the time comes.

2. Run Rockets Run

Last year, the Rockets started out slow - and not in terms of wins and losses. We're talking about their pace of play. Despite boasting perhaps the most athletic roster in the NBA, the Rockets ground possessions out. Throughout the year, they started to run.

Last night, they didn't stop running. The Rockets finished with 26 fastbreak points. If they saw an opportunity to push the pace, the pace was pushed.

Sure, a team needs an effective halfcourt offense - it's where most of the game is played. A team also needs to take every advantage they can. There's no reason why the Rockets shouldn't be among the most fastbreak-heavy teams in the NBA when they have so many young legs.

3. Jalen Green: Plus/Minus King?

There's no questioning Green's athleticism. There are few questions to ask about his talent. Any question about Green revolves around his ability to consistently help his team win.

Last night, there was no questioning his impact. If you watched this contest, you saw Green dominating for long stretches. The Jazz had no answer for him.

The numbers reflected his outstanding play. Green was +15 in this contest. That was a team-best mark. Rockets fans can't ask anything more of Green than that.

Yes, this is one preseason game, It doesn't mean much of anything in the long run. Still, it's encouraging. If Green can carry some momentum into the regular season, the narrative around him may begin to change.

Hopefully, Ime Udoka can start to trust him to stay on the floor when it counts.