Juggling jet lag, practice in China
SHENZHEN, China — Player development coach Willie Green needed only to see Eric Housen’s face — dark bags under his eyes, 5 o’clock shadow in full effect — to grasp just how chaotic of a week the Warriors’ director of team operations has endured.
“I saw him this morning, and he looked a little discombobulated,” Green said. “But it just speaks to his work ethic. He’s always working.”
Housen’s job title is vague because his responsibilities span those of a traveling secretary, equipment manager, event planner, catering director and luggage handler. Though anonymous to people outside the organization, he is a big reason players and coaches can focus on basketball.
Perhaps at no time is he more vital than when
the Warriors decide to spend most of preseason nearly 7,000 miles from home. Now, with one leg of that journey done, Golden State is beginning to prepare for its exhibitions against Minnesota in Shenzhen (Thursday, which is 11 p.m. PDT Wednesday) and in Shanghai (Sunday).
Nine of the Warriors’ 18 players, including Kevin Durant, attended the team’s optional workout Tuesday afternoon at Shenzhen City Arena. Finally in China after a passport-processing delay forced him to travel separately on a commercial flight, head coach Steve Kerr was set to oversee a formal practice Wednesday.
“There have already been a lot of circumstances on this trip that we couldn’t predict,” Housen said. “There were a lot of people working on it, but the most important thing is we got here safe and sound.”
Golden State has worked with NBA China to map out a detailed, weeklong itinerary that features seven leaguerelated events, meetings with corporate sponsors and a fan-appreciation day in Shanghai on Saturday. Somewhere amid all those obligations, the Warriors must carve out time to prepare to defend their NBA title.
Complicating matters is the jet leg that comes with jumping ahead 15 hours. On the team charter, the training staff handed players and coaches humidifier masks to reduce the temporary sleep disorder’s effects and guard against airborne infections. The players also were encouraged to wash their hands regularly and eat food that wouldn’t upset the stomach.
Though the charter getting pushed back four hours Sunday created logistical challenges for Housen’s staff, it helped put people on a more regular sleep schedule. The team touched down Monday in Shenzhen at 8:13 p.m. local time. By the time players got to the Four Seasons and unpacked, they conceivably could have gotten at least eight hours of sleep.
“I’m not really worried about the time frame, the difference,” guard Patrick McCaw said. “My body feels normal right now. I think I’ve just got to get adjusted, but I think I’ll be fine.”
Because of the flight delay, the Warriors canceled practice Monday night and added the voluntary workout to the Tuesday schedule. Kerr, who stayed in Hong Kong — roughly 11 miles from Shenzhen — after landing there early Tuesday morning, toured the autonomous territory south of mainland China with Draymond Green, Zaza Pachulia, David West, Shaun Livingston and Damian Jones. Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Andre Iguodala went golfing.
As for Housen? He carried equipment to Shenzhen City Arena and granted an interview, a rarity for someone most comfortable behind the scenes.
“There’s a lot to still do,” Housen said, “but just being in the gym for the first practice is always a good feeling.”