Alperen Sengun is aiming to have another All-Star campaign in his sixth year with the Houston Rockets. Sengun has continued to improve over the years, developing into one of the most dependable big men in the NBA.
Sengun has suffered back-to-back first-round exits in the playoffs. For sure, helping the Rockets get over the hump is one of his main priorities.
Houston was favored to win over the Los Angeles Lakers in April, with Luka Doncic sidelined by a hamstring injury and Austin Reaves recovering from an oblique injury. Still, the Rockets could not get the job done, losing to the Lakers in six games. It did not help that Kevin Durant was limited to only two games because of a knee injury and an ankle injury.
Sengun claimed that they lost to the Lakers primarily because of one facet.
Article Continues Below“We beat them in every stat, but the experience beat us,” said the two-time All-Star, as quoted by The Rockets Wire's Ben DuBose.
Only Durant had ample experience in the playoffs in the Rockets' rotation, with Steven Adams getting sidelined by an ankle injury in January.
Sengun, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Reed Sheppard, and Tari Eason looked flustered against the Lakers. Smith and Sheppard committed crucial errors in Game 3, which Los Angeles won in overtime for a 3-0 lead.
But with an intact core armed with more wisdom, plus the much-needed return of Fred VanVleet from his ACL injury, the Rockets will continue to be heavy contender in the Western Conference.