One department the Houston Rockets need to seriously address is their defense. And it appears they plan to do just that with reports they are working out a former player known for being known as a defensive stopper.
According to The Athletic, the Rockets are working out Luc Mbah a Moute. The 33-year-old veteran is a free agent and has not seen action since the 2017-18 NBA season. He last played for the Los Angeles Clippers. He did not play a single game last season since he was undergoing partial medial meniscectomy on his left knee. Now, Houston wants to see if he is ready to go in a move that would address their defensive shortcomings.
If he makes the grade, it will be a homecoming of sorts for Mbah a Moute. Before joining the Clippers, the 37th overall pick of the 2008 NBA Draft played for Houston during the 2017-18 season. At the time, he played 61 games and averaged 7.5 points and 2.7 rebounds. The Cameroonian may not have impressive numbers, but he is a proven defensive stopper.
While possibly adding the 6-foot-8 player makes sense, it also begs to ask if head coach Mike D'Antoni will utilize him the right way. Most know that D'Antoni focuses more on the offensive side of things, meaning he is unlikely to pay much attention to Mbah a Moute. On the other hand, he could be another big man to consider in the middle.
The Rockets have opted to go with the small-ball approach, something that has so far worked for the Rockets. But there are still some who have doubts about whether this will hold up come the NBA playoffs. The defense is needed, and having able bodies that can push bigger players out of the paint remains a must. Mbah a Moute could help in that department, giving P.J. Tucker some needed help.
The Rockets have dropped two games in a row but remain at the fourth spot of the NBA Western Conference. They are tied with the Utah Jazz with similar 39-22 win-loss records, and each win becomes pretty valuable at this point. The Rockets and Jazz are likely to meet in the first round of the NBA playoffs, making their final positioning important. The offense is working for the Rockets, but poor defense negates that effort. The Jazz is not the only team Houston has to worry about. The Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers are other teams they are likely to cross paths with. Both have big men who can work inside the paint, a big problem if the Rockets don't get a banger soon.
