What do we know about Wood defense?
"After a defensive turnaround highlighted the Rockets’ victory over the Kings on Sunday in the second of two consecutive games at Golden 1 Center, Rockets coach Stephen Silas lauded
center Christian Wood as the centerpiece of Houston’s improved coverage.
'Christian was so good in his talk in the pick-and-roll, as good as he’s been all season,' Silas said. 'His early talk, you could see we were organized, we could get our protection behind the ball. And yeah, like I say, communication brings organization, and he did it.'
Although Wood is well-regarded for his versatility on offense, his defensive aptitude can get lost in the muck of the Rockets’ NBA-worst defense. Wood leads the Rockets in defensive win shares (1.1) and has the best defensive rating among Rockets players who average at least 19 minutes per game.
Wood is such a vital cog in Houston’s switch-everything defense that his mistakes are magnified. But when he plays well and communicates to help his teammates stick to their assignments, the Rockets look like a different team in the half court.
As one of the most experienced players on the floor for the Rockets, Wood embraced a vocal role on defense. He directed his teammates to their spots in transition, called for help to cut off baseline drives, and during timeouts pulled Porter and Jalen Green aside to discuss coverages."
