Silas can teach Culley a few things
Though Houston could seem cursed to have had consecutive superstars wanting out, if new Texans coach David Culley wishes to look at how another new coach dealt with a superstar’s trade demand, he does not have to look far.
As with Culley, who will be named Texans coach while quarterback Deshaun Watson is seeking a trade, Rockets coach Stephen Silas began his tenure with James Harden wanting to be traded, giving him relatively unusual insight into navigating that sort of situation.
“I don’t know that I handled it that great, but you just kind of have to focus on what you can control, and there’s so many things coming into a situation that you have to handle and take care of beyond the situation with individual players,” Silas said. “There’s your staff that you’re putting together there’s a culture that you’re trying to instill. There’s offense and defense and so many different things that you have control over and you have to establish right away when you get into the building.”
Silas got his first head coaching position after 20 years as an NBA assistant. Culley will begin his first head coaching job after 27 seasons as an NFL assistant. Silas had to begin his tenure with the situation with his star player unsettled and amid extensive health and safety protocol absences, but regardless of how things develop with the Texans and the pandemic in the months ahead, Culley will also have plenty to keep his attention beyond the resolution of the situation with his star quarterback.
“The other things are really not under your control even though you worry about them and think about them and maybe you have private discussions about them,” Silas said. “You control what you can and the job is so hard that you have to really, really concentrate on the structure that you’re putting together the culture that you’re trying to establish and making sure that you hire the right people that can help you do that.”
Full rotation finally is available
The Rockets, for the first time this season, had their full rotation available on Thursday, not only bringing the help that comes with starting center Christian Wood’s return after missing three games with a sprained ankle, there could be a lift that comes with finally being whole.
The Rockets’ starting lineup on Thursday was their 13th in 17 games. They have played the majority of games with at least two starters out, including two with just nine players and another with eight players only possible when Rodions Kurucs was cleared an hour before tip. They have had one game postponed because they did not have the required eight players available.
Beyond having key players back, the return to good health offers a chance to build continuity and chemistry that has been lacking.
“It’s good to know that we’re going to have our whole group and can kind of start figuring out what our rotations look like and don’t have to be beholden to the limitations of the roster and injuries, and COVID and every other thing that has kind of crept into our season so far,” Silas said. “So, it is great to know that we’re going to have our whole group and see what we can do.”
Tate’s play makes House a reserve
Though Danuel House Jr. has returned to the Rockets rotation after three weeks out, he could continue to come off the bench.
House started the four games to open the season before he went out with back spasms. He played with the second unit in his first two games back, in part because he is still working on rebuilding his conditioning, but also because the Rockets have been happy to have rookie Jae’Sean Tate start at small forward in part because he does not play like a rookie.
“He’s just trustworthy, makes the right plays, makes the right reads, usually in the right spot on both ends, he’s a good rebounder on both ends,” Silas said. “That’s one thing that we need to make sure that we continue to do, rebound the ball. … And you just like to have people on the floor that you can trust, you know what you’re going to get from them. He’s one of those guys.”