Fertitta settles on changes for uniforms
With the Rockets’ uniform choices for the Western Conference finals set, with the team in black for each home game, owner Tilman Fertitta said he has settled on small changes for future uniforms to start with the 2019-20 season.
Rockets uniforms will not be changed for next season as part of the two-year process that began with this season. Next season, Fertitta said, will see changes primarily to the font, but nothing as drastic as when the team was previously sold and the Rockets went from red-and-yellow uniforms to blue with stripes.
“We are in the process,” Fertitta said. “We’ve had to pick out the following year’s uniforms. The uniforms, I think we have very good uniforms right now.
“Don’t look for any monumental change like what happened in the Les Alexander years. Don’t expect anything like that. I’m a more serious guy.
“We’re making a correction (to the lettering). We’re looking into that.”
Fertitta said there is no deal in place for a uniform sponsor.
“We want the right company,” Fertitta said. “We’ve had different opportunities with different companies. We’re not in a hurry.”
If the Western Conference finals go seven games, the Rockets will wear the black uniforms they chose for the opener four times, with the more traditional red uniforms twice in Oakland and the white uniforms once, also on the road. Curry spells out defending Harden
Rockets guard James Harden led the NBA in free throws attempted in the regular season, taking 10.1 per game.
But he went into the Western Conference finals against Golden State averaging 8.1 per game, and he took three free throws per game in his two games against the Warriors this season.
The key against Harden, Warriors guard Stephen Curry said, is being disciplined.
“You can't reach,” Curry said. “That's the hardest thing. He's a master at — honestly, whether it's a foul or not, he makes it look like it's a foul. It's a true art to that.
“For us, we don't want to be in those situations where a ref is making a judgment call. We want to make it as clear as possible that we're playing great defense with our hands out, using our bodies, using our IQ to make it tough on them. At the end of the day, that's all we can control.
“We've played him plenty of times. We don't want that to be a determining factor in the series.”
Coaches: Measure of fear a good thing
The Rockets had the best record in the NBA regular season, won the season series against the Warriors 2-1 and were installed a 1½ –point favorite in Game 1.
But Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said his team was the underdog, which he said could be a good thing when it comes to attitude.
“I think we’re with the right amount of fear and the right amount of confidence,” D’Antoni said. “Obviously, we're the underdog.
“When you go against the champs, you've got to knock them out. But I do like who we are, what we’ve done and where we can go. We’re definitely the underdog.”
Warriors coach Steve Kerr did not label his team the favorite or underdog, but was happy to hear guard Klay Thompson said the Warriors had an appropriate amount of fear.
“Well, Gregg Popovich is happy to hear that, that my players are using his term,” said Kerr, who played for Popovich in San Antonio. “I stole the term from Pop. He used to use it all the time with the Spurs.
“It’s a great term because you don’t want to be scared when you go out on the floor, but you need the appropriate edge, the appropriate fear that comes from respecting your opponent, respecting the situation that you’re in because that brings out your best.”
Asked if the Warriors are underdogs, he said: “I’m taking the Warriors plus the one-anda-half. I read that whole story about gambling this morning.
“I guess now I’m allowed to announce my picks for the week. Stay away from Boston tomorrow. You have to be careful with those Game 2s.
“Adam Silver on line 2. I’m about to get fined.”