No raised fists
The Olympics uphold a ban on protests from podiums or the fields of play.
The Rockets became even more shorthanded than they expected on Wednesday, but likely not as limited as they will be in a few days when they could have no backup guards.
Guard Kevin Porter Jr. was placed in the NBA and NBPA health and safety protocols, forcing him to miss Wednesday’s game against the Jazz and the back-to-back on Friday against the Clippers and Nuggets. With guard John Wall sitting out one game when the Rockets play on consecutive nights, that would leave them with just two guards — Avery Bradley and Armoni Brooks — and no point guards for the game Wall misses.
The Rockets already were without six players — Danuel House Jr., Eric Gordon, D.J. Augustin, David Nwaba, Sterling Brown and Dante Exum
— before Porter was ruled out. Only House is considered close to a return but unless he is back for the game Wall sits out, the Rockets would be down to nine players, including two on two-way contracts with their G League affiliate.
The Athletic on Wednesday reported that Porter was with Brown on Monday when Brown was assaulted in the parking lot of the Booby Trap on the River club in Miami.
An NBA spokesman would not say if Porter being placed in the health and safety protocols stemmed from its investigation of the incident but that the league is “still reviewing the situation.” Rockets coach Stephen Silas said he is not permitted to comment on the reasons for players being in the health and safety protocols.
The incident and the potential fallout beyond Brown’s injuries were the
latest in a long series of issues the Rockets have faced since before the season started, with even their first game postponed when violations of health and safety protocols left them without enough players to play.
“It’s not an easy situation, but that’s the job, that’s what I’m here for,” coach Stephen Silas said. “My job is to lead us through these choppy waters. My job is to hopefully navigate all that is going on around them. My job is to get us to a place we’re thinking about the Utah Jazz and preparing them to play a game and really, like I’ve said again and again, focus on the controllables.
“Obviously, there’s a lot of uncontrollable. Staying strong and staying positive through all of these times is what’s necessary.”
Porter has averaged 15.5 points and 6.2 assists with the Rockets, making it a priority to work to develop the 20-year old, secondyear guard through the balance of the season. He had started the past 14 games after coming back from a sore right quad that had forced him to miss three games.
House closer to making return
Rockets forward Danuel House Jr. said while he is making progress in his recovery from a sprained right ankle, including some on-court drills, he has not been able to target when he might return from the injury.
“I think we’re getting closer and closer,” House said. “Just dealing with it the best I can. The staff is doing an unbelievable job. The coaching staff is working with me and prepping myself and getting ready. We’re doing a good job of rehabbing and taking our time and making sure it is handled in the right way.
“The medical staff hasn’t really given me a precise date. I’m just going by rehabilitation and movements day-by-day until they give me the OK.”
House is the only Rockets player of the six out with injuries that could be considered close to returning, coach Stephen Silas said.
“He’ll be back sooner than later,” Silas said. “It looked like at shootaround he was moving around pretty good.”
House said he has not begun movement on the court behind limited straight-line running in addition to shooting.
House sprained his right ankle April 5 against the Suns in Toyota Center. He has averaged 9.3 points on 40.6 percent shooting along with 3.9 rebounds, playing in just 31 games while having to miss games self-isolating, with back spasms and with a bruised knee.
“I just wanted to go into the situation with positive thinking and just be a good encouragement person in the back of the locker room for the young guys and my teammates as much as possible even though I’m out right now,” House said. “The timetable? Never guessed it or pinpointed it. But everything is getting better. Can’t wait to get back.”