The Houston Rockets need Fred VanVleet to reinvent his game

It's just one game, but the Houston Rockets are sorely disappointed with their season-opening performance against the Hornets.

(It's just one game...it's just one game).

The Rockets had a 17-point lead in the first half. It was satisfying. Fans saw this young team developing. Alperen Sengun was dominant, and Jalen Green was relatively judicious in his shot selection.

In the second half, the Rockets did their best impression of seminal 90s rap group The Roots - things fell apart. Sengun was as poor in the second half as he was sensational in the first. Green started launching thoughtless triples. The Rockets were disorganized, and there was nobody there to help.

There was someone there who was supposed to help, however...

Rockets' Fred VanVleet delivers a stinker

Unfortunately, VanVleet was not helpful.

He finished this game with 14 points on 4/18 shooting from the field, including a putrid 2/11 mark from long-range.

It's just one game, but VanVleet's shot selection was abysmal. He did not orchestrate this team's offense - he broke it.

Down the stretch, it felt like VanVleet wanted to put the team on his back. That's understandable. VanVleet is the Rockets' unquestioned captain. He's comfortably the highest-paid player on the team, and his desire to deliver is admirable.

It's also something he needs to reign in throughout the season.

Rockets need to rely on others

When the Houston Rockets are back in the title picture, Fred VanVleet will not be leading the team.

He may be a role player. He may not be on the roster at all. One thing is certain - he will not be one of the team's stars.

So, his proclivity for launching contested three-pointers off the dribble is problematic. It's been a trend throughout VanVleet's career. For the most part, his shot diet has been justified. VanVleet has been a lead ball-handler, and with his diminutive size, he's needed to pressure the defense with that shot to create advantages. Moreover, he's connected on an acceptable number of those threes throughout his career.

He needs to cut back on them with the Rockets.

This isn't about his 4/18 performance last night. VanVleet's game merely encapsulates a broader systemic issue. This is not an appropriate role for a player sharing a roster with Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green. The Rockets just paid each of them to be the future of the squad. As the season progresses, VanVleet needs to be more of a distributor. He should look to shoot off the catch.

There was a play down the stretch last night. VanVleet made a solid entry pass to Sengun on the interior. The Hornets swarmed, and Sengun kicked it back out to his floor general (Sengun needs to pass out of the double more quickly, but that's another article):

Splash.

That's what the Rockets need from VanVleet. His job is to enhance Sengun and Green's performances.

Hopefully, he can do that in his next game.