Brooks’ shooting is his ticket
Though it would be too soon to forecast where or if Armoni Brooks might fit into the Rockets’ rotation, already crowded in the backcourt with John Wall expected back this week and Eric Gordon to return this month, the Rockets hope that he can bring a skill they desperately need.
“Shooting,” Rockets coach Stephen Silas said. “He’s done it for a while. It’s not just this year in the G League. He’s done it the previous year in the G League. Obviously with our ranking in the league with our 3-point shooting, it’s not very good. So, we wanted to get some shooting in.”
A 6-3 guard, Brooks made 39.1 percent of his 3-pointers in two G League seasons, averaging 16.8 points last season with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. The University of Houston product is not expected to be cleared from the health and safety protocols until later in the week.
After signing Brooks to a two-way contract, the Rockets could continue to use the end of their roster to look at and develop young players. They left a roster spot open with the release of Ben McLemore and Justin Patton, who had been on a two-way deal, to potentially make another addition this season.
“I’m for it,” Silas said. “If we have spots that are available for guys we want to take a look at, guys who can possibly fit in to how we play, get a good look at guys how they work and how they listen and how they learn and all of those things, those are important things for us to know. As the season winds down, I’m sure we’ll have the opportunity to do stuff like that.
“Just to have them in the building and get a good feel for who they are, that’s positive in my eyes.”
McLemore has Silas’ admiration
The Rockets placed Ben McLemore on waivers to give him a chance to get with a team that can offer more consistent playing time and perhaps reach the playoffs. But Rockets coach Stephen Silas made a point to express his feelings about McLemore’s attitude throughout a trying season.
“He’s one of my favorite people, just really genuine, team guy and in a really tough position. I made sure I was always kind of communicating with him and letting him understand that I believed in him. There were times he wouldn’t play two or three games and then he’d come in and play, sit again. It’s such a hard thing for a shooter to be in and out of the lineup.
“It’s a hard, hard thing for a shooter to be in that role and he took it and was nothing but great in practices, walk-throughs, shootarounds, always getting extra shots up. Just a great person to have around, a great person to have in the building.
“I hope that someone picks him up, a good team picks him up and he can flourish in a role he deserves because was really just a joy to be around.”
Different day, but again same lineup
The Rockets on Sunday had the same starting lineup for a third consecutive game, matching their longest stretch without changing lineups this season.
They could keep the same starting five together Monday against the Suns, with coach Stephen Silas saying that the Rockets were “shooting for Wednesday” to have John Wall back after missing what would be a fourth game with fluid buildup on his left knee. But even with one change and just one practice since moving to the latest lineup — with Sterling Brown starting in Wall’s place in the backcourt — the Rockets have had a chance to build the continuity they have lacked all season.
“Obviously, when John comes back, that’ll change a little bit,” Silas said. “We’re finding a little bit of continuity. We’re finding some rotations that are good for the players and good for the group because when you know when you’re going in and you know what your role is going to be, it’s easier for you to play.
“But we have … three in the rotation with D.J. ( Augustin), A.B. ( Avery Bradley) and Kelly ( Olynyk) who are new to how we play and what we do. There were some possessions in the Boston game where we were three out, two in instead of five out. That’s just those guys not necessarily being with us for a very long time and lack of practice time and them just being new.”
Pushing the ball a key to success
The Rockets on Monday will face a Suns team that rank 25th in pace, before games against the Mavericks and Clippers who are 23rd and 27th in pace, respectively. The Rockets, however, will need to play up-tempo, which has been an issue against slowdown teams as it was in Boston on Friday.
“Our strengths are very much centered around our ability to push the ball up the floor, not playing against set defenses,” coach Stephen Silas said. “Think about how Kevin Porter Jr. can be good; that would be by him pushing the ball. Think about how John Wall can be good; that’s him pushing the ball. You think about how Christian Wood can be good, and that’s us pushing the ball and hitting him as a trailer, him trailing into pickand-rolls and rolling or popping quickly.”
The Rockets are sixth in the NBA in pace this season.