Jalen Green’s playoff nightmare is blinding fans to the real Rockets magic

Now only down 3-2 in their first-round series against the Golden State Warriors, the Houston Rockets are still playing from behind. They won big in Game 5, yet there were still some downsides to the performance. Most notably, Jalen Green struggled once again, as he continues to have a rough playoff debut.

Green’s shooting splits have been brutal through the first five games of the series, and the Rockets need him to be at the top of his game. If they want to score enough points to truly compete for a championship, he’s a crucial piece of their offensive puzzle. 

But all the talk of Green’s struggles, the play of Alperen Sengun has been overshadowed.

Jalen Green's messy playoffs are distracting Rockets fans from Alperen Sengun

Sengun is also in the midst of his playoff debut, and his numbers have been very impressive. In Game 5, a season-saving win for the Rockets, Sengun put up 15 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists while shooting 6-of-9 from the floor. He also added two steals and two blocks to his tallies.

Through the first five games of the series, Sengun has averaged 20.8 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 5.2 assists while shooting 47.7% from the field and 40.0% from deep (on 1.0 three-point attempts per game).

It’s easier to envision a guy like Green to be the engine of a high-level playoff team. The blueprint has been more common. The likes of Stephen Curry, Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant, and more, wings and guards have led teams to title runs for ages.

But Sengun is a center—and a very unique one at that.

Obviously, Nikola Jokic is the best comparison for a skilled big man leading a team to a title, but he’s one of the best players of all time. Can Sengun get there? Perhaps not. But just because Green is struggling doesn’t mean Rockets fans should lose hope of their team’s offense moving into the future.

Sengun has stared his playoff debut in the face and tackled it head-on. He’s proven perfectly capable of being a top guy on a quality team in the regular season. But the playoffs are a different animal.

Leading a team on a deep playoff run takes a different caliber of player, and considering this is his first-ever chance to prove himself, Sengun looks like he could be on a solid path to getting there.

Green’s struggles shouldn’t distract Rockets fans from that positive—Sengun can hold up in the postseason.