Injuries offer time to tinker with small lineup
With forward Terrence Jones day-to-day with bruised ribs and Donatas Motiejunas out indefinitely while coming back from back surgery, the Rockets have given practice time to Trevor Ariza and Sam Dekker at power forward in addition to their usual turns at small forward.
Coach Kevin McHale said he expects to use small lineups on occasion, anyway, with the absences of his regular power forwards offering a chance to get others ready.
“We’ll play Trev some at the four,” McHale said. “We did last year at times. During the course of the season, things happen. Guys get hurt, miss games. Trev was a warrior last year, played all 82. He can play different things. I’m glad he’s been putting himself in at the four at times. Last year, we played him at the four a lot without really practicing it enough.”
Rookie Montrezl Harrell also has had extra reps as the injuries have allowed young players to get more playing time Thursday and Friday.
“I like him,” McHale said. “He’s a big kid, plays hard, gets up and down the floor, brings great energy. I really like what I see out of him. He’s got a chance.
“It gives Dekker a chance. It gives everybody a chance.”
McHale likes what he’s seeing
Coach Kevin McHale is rarely effusive about workouts, but he seemed especially happy after Friday’s practice, the week’s heaviest in scrimmage time.
“A lot of good stuff,” McHale said. “For the fourth day, I’m very pleased.”
When asked what has been the most surprising part of camp, forward Corey Brewer cited the conditioning of the players.
“Guys are in good shape,” Brewer said. “Usually when I first come to training camp, a lot of guys are done by the second, third day. But today was still a lot of intensity and guys were still going hard.
“We’re pretty athletic. We have a lot of young guys that are athletic. K.J. McDaniels is very athletic. Clint (Capela ) is very athletic. Even Sam Dekker, he surprised me. They said he was athletic, but he’s more athletic than I thought.”
Friday’s practice included more scrimmage time with officials on hand to keep it from getting too physical. Asked who the biggest hacker on the team was, Brewer said, “Me.
“James (Harden), he’s a hack, too. And then (Trevor Ariza). We got a lot of hacks, so it’s good to have the refs.”
Thibodeau visits training camp
Former Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, also a former Rockets assistant, visited practice Friday, talking shop with coach Kevin McHale after the workout.
Thibodeau declined to be interviewed, but said he was just visiting a variety of camps while out of coaching this season.
“I like Tom,” McHale said. “I’ve known Tom for a long time. Really good guy, hell of a coach. He’s just going to go around. You know, at this time of the year, when you’ve been in the business as long as he has and you’re not doing it, I think you start jonesing for the game. I’m glad he was here. He’s more than welcome.”
Thibodeau, who will also attend Saturday’s practice, visited with James Harden after the practice. Harden often cited Thibodeau’s influence on the USA Basketball coaching staff as a factor in his success last season.
Lawson expects more assists
Guard Ty Lawson was third in the NBA in assists last season, averaging a career-best 9.6 assists per game with the Denver Nuggets.
He expects to average more this season.
“I got Dwight (Howard) rolling down the paint,” Lawson said. “He’s going to attract a lot of attention. You have Corey (Brewer), Trev (Ariza), James (Harden), guys who are good shooters. They’re going to be wideopen. I think I can get one or two more assists.”