Energetic addition will offer a lift soon
Expect Westbrook to rejoin teammates for Wednesday’s drills
The Rockets on Monday did something they hope never to do again this summer. They practiced without All-Star guard Russell Westbrook.
One week after he announced he tested positive for COVID-19, Westbrook was scheduled to join the NBA’s restart campus.
With that, the Rockets planned to shift their day off this week to Tuesday so they can be back on the practice court Wednesday, the earliest Westbrook could complete his on-campus quarantine period.
“As a team, we’re really excited,” forward Danuel House Jr. said of Westbrook’s return. “We’re finally getting our full team together, so it’s going to be fun.”
Westbrook, who was scheduled to arrive 11 days after he was unable to fly on the team charter, will have to remain in his hotel room at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex until he returns two negative COVID-19 tests taken at least 24 hours apart.
Coach Mike D’Antoni said that could limit Westbrook’s availability to play in the first scrimmage Friday against the Toronto Raptors.
“I do expect that once he clears everything that he’ll be ready to go five-on-five and all that,” D’Antoni said. “Friday might be a little early. That’ll be up to the medical staff and Russell himself. See how he feels in the days before. Hopefully, we’ll get in a couple of (team) scrimmages and then be ready for Russ to play. We’ll expect him to hit the ground running a little bit, but we’ll be a little careful just because of the timetable.”
Westbrook has not indicated if he ever had any coronavirus symptoms. D’Antoni said Westbrook was working out throughout the team’s time in Florida, giving him a chance to start quickly, as James Harden did last week after his delayed arrival.
“I don’t know for sure, but the conversations are yes, he’s been working and he feels good,” D’Antoni said. “If you look at Russell, you would say on his worst day, he’s probably as strong and in better shape than anybody we have. I would think he will come here and be ready to go. I think it’s more timing and more basketball shape, not just being in shape.”
The Rockets will have additional scrimmages Sunday against the Grizzlies and July 28 against the Celtics before their restart opener July 31 against the Mavericks.
Forward Luc Mbah a Moute, who was signed as a replacement for Thabo Sefolosha, has not arrived in Orlando, but a person with knowledge of his plans said he is expected soon. The Rockets have not indicated why Mbah a Moute has been unavailable.
Center Bruno Caboclo, who was required to go through a second quarantine period because he left his room prematurely during the initial days in quarantine, returned to practice Monday.
Much as with Harden joining practices last week, Westbrook’s arrival is expected to provide a jolt to workouts, with hopes he will have enough time to get up to speed before the eight “seeding” games that precede the start of the playoffs next month.
“James was ready to go from day one,” D’Antoni said. “They have been overachievers their whole life, and they will do that. When they were home or wherever they were, they’re working out and thinking it, whether it is eating right or mentally getting ready. I think in three days, we won’t remember when Russell wasn’t here.”
Westbrook got off to a slow start this season while coming back from offseason knee surgery and adjusting to a different role following his trade from the Thunder. But he has become increasingly vital to the Rockets’ chances to make a deep run in the postseason.
He has averaged 27.5 points on a career-best 47.4 percent shooting in 53 games with the Rockets this season. The 2016-17 MVP, Westbrook was among the league’s top players in the latter half of the season, averaging 31.7 points on 52.7 percent shooting along with 8.1 rebounds and 6.8 assists since Jan. 1.
“It’s definitely exciting,” guard Austin Rivers said. “He’s obviously one of our better players or our best player, between he and James. So to have our biggest piece, one of our biggest pieces, back, it’s just huge for our team to continue to build on that chemistry.
“We can get everything right, get everybody here. Everybody’s looking good. Everybody’s feeling good. Russ is that last piece, will kind of make everybody feel complete. It’s important.”
Westbrook became so integral to the Rockets’ offense, particularly off the dribble, that the team moved to a small, centerless lineup to give him more room to operate. Since the start of the new year, he is the NBA’s leading scorer on drives.
“Obviously, it’s key,” D’Antoni said of Westbrook’s joining the team. “Any time you’re missing a key piece like that, it makes it a little more difficult. We’re just anxious to get him. It’ll give everybody a little pep in their step. But it’s been great. These guys have been practicing hard. It’s one step closer to being whole.”