How Jalen Green will fit with the new-look Rockets

Shams Charania and Kelly Iko of The Athletic gave Houston Rockets fans an early Christmas present with their report that Jalen Green is set to return on December 23rd against the Pacers.

After missing one month due to hamstring injury, Rockets prized rookie Jalen Green will return on Thursday vs. Pacers in Indianapolis, sources tell me and @KellyIkoNBA.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 21, 2021

On November 24th, Green injured his hamstring on a first-quarter drive to the rim. The injury that put the second overall pick on ice came at an unfortunate time for the Rockets and Green.

Green was in the midst of one of the best quarters of his young career. He had scored 11 points on four of five shooting against the Chicago Bulls. Minutes before his injury, he made Alex Caruso, one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA, look like a G-Leaguer.

This Jalen Green bucket on Caruso ? @brhoops

Smooth. pic.twitter.com/Vkgy1Rv8bt
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 25, 2021

Adding insult to injury, the game featured a schematic shift for the Rockets. November 24th marked the official date that the Rockets ditched their two big lineup. In 16 of the Rockets' first 17 games, they started Christian Wood with either Daniel Theis or Alperen Sengun and whimpered to a 1-16 start.

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