Capela sits out with a virus
Center Clint Capela was sidelined Wednesday with a virus, with the Rockets calling him day-today but unsure if he will be able to return in time to play Saturday against the Atlanta Hawks.
Tyson Chandler started against the Heat, but coach Mike D’Antoni said he wanted to hold Chandler to four-minute stints before calling on a mix of using Isaiah Hartenstein as a backup center and going with small lineups against Miami’s range shooting.
The Rockets have had a different starting lineup in each of the past four games and had their preferred lineup in just three of the past eight games, changes forced by injuries to Capela and Danuel House Jr. before Capela’s illness. That has cut into depth already diminished with the injury to Eric Gordon after Gerald Green was lost for the season in the preseason.
Wednesday’s starting lineup — with Chandler, House, P.J. Tucker, James Harden and Russell Westbrook — was the Rockets’ seventh in 17 games this season.
“It’s never good if you have people out,” D’Antoni said. “But it’s part of the game. You have to deal with it. Other guys get chances. Other people stepping up, you do know when you get a full roster back who can play and who can’t, who you can trust.”
Nearly as much as missing the contributions, especially with Capela getting at least 19 rebounds in seven consecutive games, the lineup changes could be impacting cohesion.
“Right now, we’re just learning how to play with double teams we haven’t seen in the part, trying to get that more efficient and better and get James used to it,” D’Antoni said. “Every game, you should learn something about how you’re playing and try to get it better.”
Harden carrying heavier workload
When James Harden said he enjoyed his annual Thanksgiving event as a break in the schedule, he added that he was “beat up.” He offered no specifics, saying “my whole body,” and did not miss practice time or Wednesday’s game. He has not been on an injury report.
The toll he has carried, however, has been extreme and increasing. Beyond accounting for nearly 60 points per game between his scoring and assists, Harden has played a league-high 38.9 minutes per game in the seven games since Eric Gordon’s knee injury going into Wednesday’s game against the Heat. Those seven games came in a span of just 12 days.
Prior to Gordon’s injury, Harden had been playing 35.7 minutes per game.
“You always have concerns,” coach Mike D’Antoni said. “He’s been shouldering a lot of responsibility, played a lot of minutes. We’ve had guys hurt and Eric can’t spell him. He’s got to shoulder the load of scoring all the time. So, yeah, you worry about it. I don’t have a solution (for) it.”
House to enjoy holiday at home
To Danuel House Jr., the first Thanksgiving occurs in Houston on
Thursday.
For years, House had been anywhere but Houston on Thanksgiving. Every year since he left Hightower High School, his basketball schedule took him to college tournaments or professional games far from home.
“This,” he said, with his mouth almost watering at the thought, “will be the first one.”
Of the many advantages that come with playing with his hometown team, House especially was excited to be home for the holiday, as he could not while playing for the University of Houston, Texas A&M, the Wizards, Suns and Rio Grande Valley Vipers.
“This is my first Thanksgiving being home in all my years being a pro,” House said. “This is going to be a special one to me. I’m going to try to soak it in, but still keep (focus on) the task at hand.
“It’s real cool. I get to get there while the chicken is still hot. My granny, she makes a mean (sweet potato) pie. And her dressing, she makes a mean dressing.”