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Final 12 months was an all-time chaotic 12 months for the Houston Rockets. Russell Westbrook and James Harden set the tone with their commerce requests earlier than free company, but it surely by no means obtained higher from there. New head coach Stephen Silas needed to cope with juggling egos, attempting to keep up a wholesome locker room atmosphere, and studying on the job himself. Happily for Silas, this 12 months has been the polar reverse.
“Yeah, for certain,” answered Silas when requested if it’s simpler to educate with out final 12 months’s turmoil. “I imply, not having to consider coming to [the media] and what the messaging is, and excited about all the pieces that goes together with the conditions that we had final 12 months.”
Silas is clearly referring to having to reply incessant questions James Harden, generally with out Harden current. As a reminder, Harden confirmed as much as coaching camp days late, leaving coaches and teammates having to reply questions on him. The Rockets may by no means appear to get everybody on board – even ahead P.J. Tucker was upset about not receiving a contract extension. It robbed Silas of an trustworthy first teaching expertise, however happily for him, he’ll that this 12 months.
“Now it’s extra about basketball,” continued Silas. “It’s extra in regards to the journey that we’re about to embark on and quite a bit much less in regards to the different stuff, which there was numerous.”
As irritating as final season could have been for Silas with the Rockets, it was a studying expertise. He needed to coach via probably the most tough types of adversity, he found out his model via time, and he’s now way more snug as a pacesetter.
“Final 12 months, I used to be attempting to get my ft moist, and attempt to determine it out a bit bit,” stated Silas. “And now, I really feel like I haven’t figured it out by any stretch, however I’m additional alongside than I used to be final 12 months.”
Holdover gamers on the Rockets remarked about how Silas is way more direct than he was final season. Naturally, Silas was doing his finest to not step on any toes, particularly with how skilled final 12 months’s Rockets roster was in comparison with this one. Silas additionally had the posh of deferring to veterans like John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins to assist lead. This 12 months, rookies and younger gamers wish to Silas for steerage, versus the opposite method round.
“I inform it like it’s,” stated Silas. “I imply, simply yesterday, we talked about roles and I used to be direct. I feel it’s essential to be direct. To some guys greater than others. However I feel this 12 months, particularly with our younger guys, there may be little or no grey. Like with older guys, there’s a bit bit extra nuance. So yeah, that’s in all probability true. At some degree, I hadn’t actually considered it.”
This season will definitely take a look at Silas, not solely on a basketball degree, however on a persistence one. While the Rockets are certainly younger and more exciting than they were last year, they’re nonetheless very restricted in a expertise sense. Silas might want to steadiness being direct with understanding that some of these things is out of his management. Will probably be attention-grabbing to see how he fares.
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