Jock Landale's recent form in Houston gives us an early look for the Paris Olympics

Landale hit his stride for a surging Rockets outfit, and his form could be key for the Australian Boomers as Paris looms.

Going back one month in time, few would have expected the Houston Rockets to contend for an NBA play-in spot. After slumping to a fifth straight loss on the 29th of February, they were sitting on a 25-34 record, and some ways off a top ten record in the Western conference. When Alperen Şengün subsequently went down with a season-ending injury on the 11th of March, it looked as though it was all over for Houston. But against all odds, the month of March brought about a turn in their fortunes, and Aussie Jock Landale has been the man in the middle of it all.

Şengün was enjoying a breakout season of sorts, to the point where he was even in contention for the NBA’s Most Improved Player award. Unfortunately for Aussie basketball fans however, Şengün’s gain was Landale’s loss, as the latter became an afterthought in the Rockets’ big man rotation. Before March, Landale’s season minutes average was in the single digits, as he was forced to settle for garbage time minutes on a regular basis. But when Şengün went down with an ankle complaint, Landale faced a window of opportunity at the perfect time, just months out from the Paris 2024 Olympics.

In his very first game post Şengün’s injury, Landale matched up against the San Antonio Spurs, led by prodigious talent Victor Wembanyama - a seven foot four behemoth. Landale held his own against the NBA’s Rookie of the Year frontrunner, coming away with eleven points, four rebounds (three offensive) and five assists, as well as a team high +/- of +15, in Houston’s narrow two point win. That confidence boosting win over the Spurs was just game three in what would turn out to be an eleven-game win streak for Houston.

In a win over the Chicago Bulls, on March 22, Landale recorded his best game of the season and demanded a bigger role.