For Houstonian Green, it’s like Christmas to sign here
BOSTON — As badly as Gerald Green wanted to be back in the NBA, he could barely have scripted his return better, signing Thursday with his hometown Rockets and playing against the Celtics team for which he had so much success last season.
“Oh man, shoot, it’s Houston,” Green said. “Y’all know how I feel about Houston. With everything that Houston had been through this summer, for me to be part of this team, how they’re playing, this is definitely my Christmas gift.”
Green rescued fellow Houstonians during Hurricane Harvey, first driving around town in search of individuals who needed help before getting a boat to evacuate people.
“I just felt like I really needed to step up and do something,” Green said. “When you see the neighborhood you grew up in underwater, you can either sit there and look like everybody or you can get up and help somebody that needs to be helped. That was the role I wanted to take at that point.”
Green excelled with the Celtics, especially in the postseason. He called Celtics GM Danny Ainge “a genius.”
“I dreamed of these moments,” Green said. “Hopefully, I can go out there and do what I do. … I’m glad to be here. You can never be in game shape. Simulating the game is the hardest thing to do. I’ve been staying in the gym, getting shots up, playing local pickup
basketball.
“We have a lot of veterans here. I just want to bring a lot of energy on both ends of the floor and play my game. It’s been crazy, but at the end of the day, it’s basketball.”
Relief for Ariza now at hand
Gerald Green had no shootaround, no practice to get ready to play for the Rockets against the Celtics on Thursday. But the Rockets signed him because they needed him to step in immediately and take some of the load off forward Trevor Ariza in particular.
Ariza played at least 40 minutes in six consecutive games since Luc Mbah a Moute went out with a
dislocated shoulder. Mbah a Moute is expected to miss another week.
“He’s a vet, he knows how to play,” coach Mike D’Antoni said of Green. “We’re not real complicated. If he can take a few minutes off Trevor, that’s what we’ll use him for. We’re just really shorthanded on the wings. Obviously, he’s played at a good level before.”
Celtics coach Brad Stevens said Green’s skills are a perfect fit with the Rockets after he had a significant role with Boston last season. Green, a 10-year veteran who had played for eight teams (including one game with the Rockets in the 2007-08 season), went to training camp with Milwaukee last season and was released. He signed a one-year, nonguaranteed contract with the Rockets on Thursday.
“Obviously, he’s a guy that can score the ball,” Stevens said. “He was fun to have around. He’s a big reason we advanced out of the first round. I thought him starting in that Bulls series and spreading the floor and being able to guard up a spot (matching up with power forwards) … is no easy task.
“Gerald is a really accomplished guy. I think it makes a lot of sense. He fits perfect for how they play. I wish they would have waited for tomorrow.”
Paul dying to get back on the floor
The Rockets hope guard Chris Paul returns from his strained groin muscle Friday and are confident that if he does not, he will be back for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers. But as badly as Paul has been missed, the team could not want his return as much as he does.
“I don’t think he’s been ruled out for tomorrow,” coach Mike D’Antoni said. “He’s working out pretty hard. We’ll see how he reacts to it. We do what to be cautious. At the same time, he’s champing at the bit to get in there and play.
“He’s in everybody’s ear all the time. He just wants to play. The universe is not right when he’s not playing. He wants to get the universe back straight.”
The Rockets are 15-1 in games he plays.