Familiarity will help Canaan
PHILADELPHIA —Isaiah Canaan was drafted and eventually traded by the Rockets to Philadelphia to get K.J. McDaniels. But Canaan grew up in Biloxi, Miss., a Rockets fan with a Tracy McGrady replica jersey. He settled in Houston even as he played for the 76ers and Chicago Bulls.
After several attempts to return to the Rockets as a free agent, he made it official Wednesday, signing a one-year nonguaranteed contract in time to join the backcourt mix filling in while Chris Paul is out.
“I never wanted to leave,” Canaan said. “It was in a trade. It was something you can’t control. I live there in the offseason, still have good relationships with everybody on the team. When the opportunity presented a couple times, we tried to jump on it. It’s a blessing to come back,”
In 2015-16, Canaan averaged a career-high 11 points with the 76ers when Mike D’Antoni was the associate head coach in Philadelphia, giving him greater familiarity with the Rockets’ offense and D’Antoni greater confidence in Canaan.
“I know his game, and he knows our offense more or less,” D’Antoni said. “He just went through a training camp, which I like. He’s already been playing. We need bodies. I could see him playing.”
Canaan played with the Bulls last season and went to training camp with Oklahoma City before he was one of the final cuts.
“I’ve kind of been around the game a little bit,” Canaan said. “You just have to find your way. Mike, I’ve been talking to him a lot. The coaches did a good job as soon as I got here getting me up to speed. I’m looking forward to building my chemistry with my teammates. I got the concept of how he wants us to play.
“He’s familiar with my game. It gives you confidence when the coach knows what you can do and you have a good relationship with him.”
Ariza, Nene to sit with injuries
The Rockets ruled out forward Trevor Ariza for the balance of the threegame trip with a sprained left foot. No timetable for his return has been set other than he will be reevaluated when the team returns home next week.
Center Nene was out Wednesday against the 76ers with a sore left Achilles. He is listed as day-to-day, though Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni doubted Nene will play Friday in Charlotte.
With Nene out, Tarik Black played as the backup to center Clint Capela.
“That’s why Tarik is here,” D’Antoni said. “I know Tarik will step up and do it.”
Luc Mbah a Moute, who had been the Rockets’ sixth man while Eric Gordon fills in for Chris Paul in the starting lineup, started forAriza.
In his 10th season, Mbah a Moute had started 438 games, coming off the bench in 187. He has generally shot better as a starter, making 33.3 percent of his 3-pointers.
“I’ve done it throughout my career,” Mbah a Moute said. “I’ve started most of my career. It’s next man up. We have to have that mentality, try to find a way. The good thing is, the way we play, guys are interchangeable.
“It’s the same whether I’m on the floor with (Ariza) or somebody else. It’s always James (Harden) handling the ball. Same thing.”
D’Antoni high on future of 76ers
The 76ers might be going through their familiar injury issues with Markelle Fultz, the first pick of the 2017 draft, out for at least the next three games — including both games against the Rockets this season — with a shoulder issue. But after several years of unprecedented levels of losing, Philadelphia may have turned a corner, according to Mike D’Antoni.
Young Sixers stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, who each had to sit out full seasons because of injuries, appear to be worth the wait, with excellent depth led by last season’s outstanding rookie Dario Saric.
“They look real good,” said D’Antoni, who was a Sixers associate head coach in the 2015-16 season. “Brian (Colangelo, the Sixers’ general manager) does an unbelievable job. They had some suffering, but I thought Brent (Brown, the Sixers’ coach) was remarkable keeping them together and having a positive attitude.
“I might have jumped off a couple bridges there. But he did a remarkable job. And I knew Brian. It was just a matter of time before he put his mark on things and they’ll keep getting better. They’re a force to be reckoned with in the next couple of years.”
Jackson needs more seasoning
With Chris Paul out, the Rockets have used second-year Demetrius Jackson off the bench. But Jackson played just 3½ minutes Monday and did not return in the second half. The Rockets have since signed Isaiah Canaan to provide depth at the point.
Jackson, who is on a two-way contract with the Rockets to play in the G League, played 17 minutes with Boston last season.
“I think he still needs some seasoning and to get his game together,” D’Antoni said. “I like him. It probably wasn’t totally fair to throw him in the mix like that. It would have been nice to have a half a season. I think he’s got a future. He plays hard and he plays well. It’s probably a matter of a little more experience, a little more shooting. But I like Demetrius.
“I think with time he’s going to be fine. I don’t know if we have that time right now.”