Alperen Sengun's biggest preseason improvement might not be what you think

As the Houston Rockets attempt to mount a run at a championship this season, franchise center Alperen Sengun will need to step up, both offensively and defensively, in ways he never has before in his career.

Yet, despite the flashy scoring and apparent perimeter shot that he's added to his game this offseason, his most important, and unnoticed, improvement this preseason has come at the free-throw line.

Through his three preseason appearances, Sengun shot a perfect 12-of-12 from the free-throw line, and his continued ability to keep those numbers north of 80% will be massive for his ability to elevate the team into title contention this year.

Alperen Sengun's performance at the free-throw line is an excellent sign for the advancement of his game

Last season, as the team leaned heavily on Sengun to bouy their struggling half-court offense, he, in large part, delivered. Through 76 games, he averaged 19.1 points, 10.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists, shooting 49.6% from the field and taking massive strides in his game on both sides of the court.

Moreover, as he competed for his native Turkiye in the EuroBasket Tournament this offseason, Sengun looked completely dominant. En route to an appearance in the tournament final, Sengun averaged 21.6 points, 10.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists while knocking down 59.6% of his shots from the field.

Yet, as much as Sengun has improved both with his footwork in the paint and his ability to protect the rim over the past couple of seasons, one aspect of his game has remained sub-par: his performance at the free-throw line.

After knocking them down at about 71% in his first two seasons, his rate has taken a dip over his last two, and last season's 69.2% from the free-throw line represented the worst rate of his career.

Nevertheless, Sengun represents a tough matchup in the paint for many opposing centers, and his ability to draw fouls and convert them into points will be massive for his continued offensive dominance this year.

Last season he averaged 5.6 free-throw attempts per game, and got to the line at a similar rate this preseason.

With the attention that Kevin Durant will draw, expect Sengun to get more one-on-one matchups in the paint this season, meaning that, if he can capitalize upon it, the opportunity to draw more fouls will be there, giving him the ability to inflate his scoring totals within the context of the team's rejuvenated offensive front.

While Sengun's offseason improvements have become evident already, his ability to convert at the charity stripe could be one of the most important developments that Houston could see this season.