Rockets' secret weapon quietly gearing up for a massive Game 7 breakout

The Houston Rockets have pushed the Warriors to the brink.

Game 7 awaits. The Rockets were down 3-1 in this series. Fans around the league had pencilled the Warriors in for a trip to the second round.

Good thing pencils have erasers.

The Rockets have scratched and clawed their way back into this series. They've gotten well-documented contributions from Alperen Sengun, Fred VanVleet, and Amen Thompson. That said, one key contributor has been overlooked.

Jabari Smith Jr. has been the Rockets' secret weapon.

Rockets seeing Smith Jr.'s upside

Smith Jr.'s basic counting stats won't knock your socks off. He's averaging 8.2 points per game in 21.8 minutes per contest.

It's his efficiency that's been remarkable. During the regular season, Smith Jr. had a True Shooting % of 56.2%. In the postseason, he's got an incredible 73.4 TS%. Smith Jr. is shooting 55.2% from the field and 47.4% from long range.

It's easy to forget about Smith Jr. His game is unassuming. He hasn't lived up to predraft expectations in his NBA career to date.

In college, Smith Jr. was an elite shooting prospect. He was never supposed to be an on-ball maestro, but the Rockets thought they were getting a sniper who could defend multiple positions. That's what they've gotten in the postseason.

What happens now?

Smith Jr. making Rockets' life complicated

During these playoffs, Smith Jr. has been one of the best contracts in the league. The Rockets are getting tremendous value from him.

That's not going to last forever.

Smith Jr. will be eligible for an extension as of this summer. The Rockets could let negotiations ride into next summer when he can hit Restricted Free Agency (RFA).

By then, it will be decision time.

It's hard to be sure about Smith Jr.'s next deal. Paying major money for a player who can't reliably create their own shot is typically problematic. Smith Jr. isn't a typical player. He was drafted in the high lottery due to the perception that he could be a super role player.

Let's say the Rockets let him hit RFA. Suppose Smith Jr. is good next year and proves to be a playoff riser again. Suddenly, the Rockets may be looking at another $30 million per year (or more) player.

For now, that's not what Ime Udoka and the Rockets should be thinking about. They need to focus on winning Game 7.

To the surprise of some, Smith Jr. could be vital in that objective.