Most of roster works out in town in camp prelude
The event was part of an annual initiative. The message had not changed, which is the point. Yet, for the Rockets, the summer has felt different with the usual ramp-up toward the start of training camp in two weeks offering indications that things are to some degree at last looking up.
The Rockets on Monday held their annual companywide day of service, with players Kevin Porter Jr. and Jae’Sean Tate, general manager Rafael Stone and president of business operations Gretchen Sheirr visiting Houston Fire Station 8 and Houston Police Department South Central Division prior to a luncheon at Toyota Center for area first responders and military members.
“It’s a pleasure meeting all these guys, what they do for the world each and every day,” Porter said. “It’s needed and it’s something you can’t thank them enough for. These guys are real superheroes. It’s dope coming up here. I’m having a blast.
“Being able to entertain people like these guys is nothing but a blessing, to give them that feeling with everything they’ve done, and they deal with on a daily basis.”
The events, held each year in conjunction with the Sept. 11 anniversary, were to show appreciation for the work of first responders. But there also was a sense that on the court, things have changed, if only in small, summer steps.
The most obvious change has just been with the numbers of players who have spent the offseason on the Rockets’ Toyota Center practice floor.
Rather than reprising the past trips to assorted vacation hotspots for players’ minicamps and “bonding,” they have remained in the relatively no-frills environment with nearly every United States-based player on the 20-man roster training in town and together.
“It’s been a good summer,” Stone said. “I’m very happy. The summer is really about individuals. It’s less about the team. It’s more about where a specific guy, he saw a weakness; he worked on it. We identified something we wanted him to focus on; he did. We’ve seen that. Our guys have really been in the gym.
They’ve been working really hard.
“Even the guys that haven’t been here, which is Alperen (Sengun) and Usman (Garuba), have done great overseas. So, it’s been a good summer.”
While two of the 2021 first-round picks, Jalen Green and Josh Christopher, have been among the regulars on the Toyota Center practice court, Sengun and Garuba have been playing in the Eurobasket 2022 tournament. Sengun and Turkey were eliminated over the weekend. Garuba and Spain advanced to the quarterfinals.
“Al-P has been killing it,” Tate said. “Us had a couple good games, as well. I’m happy for them. I think the best thing you can do this time of year to get prepared is to play against high level talent. While they’re over there, they’re playing against the highest level. We’re excited to have them back. We definitely miss them over here, but they have a job to do.”
Both players are expected to be ready for the first training camp practices Sept. 27, Stone said. But he has watched every game to check on progress of his second-year big men.
“They are the guys we thought they were,” Stone said. “I am happy with the progression. I think both of them have gotten better game-by-game-by-game, and that’s rewarding. Some of the stuff we’ve asked them to work on, they’ve worked on, and in real time, you can see some of the results.”
For Garuba, who was limited to 24 games and missed all of summer league because of injuries, the opportunity to compete this summer has been especially valuable and encouraging.
“I think he can really play defense on a really high level,” Stone said. “It was a really hard year for him, and we talked about it. There are certain things out of your control. He was hurt a lot. They weren’t fake injuries. Not to downplay that; availability is a big deal. But it’s obviously good to see him getting back in the floor, feeling more confident and impacting the game at a high level.”
When he returns, Garuba will find a great deal of competition for playing time, with Sengun, Tate and K.J. Martin returning, and the additions of draft picks Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason. Center Boban Marjanovic, acquired from Dallas in the trade of Christian Wood, joined the offseason workouts this month.
Garuba and Sengun cannot be considered behind because of offseason commitments, having benefited from competition. But the Rockets hope that offseason workouts will offer a running start to training camp.
“We’ve been together for a couple months now,” Porter said. “I’ve been seeing growth and development. The new guys have been learning fast. I’ve been learning fast. So, it’s been good. They fit right in. They fit already.”
If it might be premature to describe optimism for a team that had the NBA’s worst record in each of the past two seasons, the workouts have at least been encouraging, bringing reason to hope for better times ahead.
“It’s definitely one of the most full locker rooms in my time here that I’ve had during the offseason,” Tate, who signed a three-year, $20.6 million contract in July. “I feel like this year everyone has been there all summer, just trying to get better, trying to prepare. We’re going to need that.
“I definitely think we’ve been on the bottom the last couple years so there’s only (one) way we can go and that is up. Just getting more experience with our rookie class from last year. I’m going into my third year and Kevin is going into his fourth. I just think that experience is going to help us out this year and getting that year under our belt but also continue to build a culture with this new class coming in.”
But first, they dropped by fire and police stations, bringing ticket vouchers, memorabilia and appreciation.
“We do our best down the street to entertain people, whether it’s the Rockets or concerts or whatever,” Stone said. “But these guys are protecting people. At this stage it’s a cliché, but they’re running into places that everybody else is running out of. So, it’s an honor to be able to be here.”