In a significant milestone as the NBA continues to ramp up team activities in advance of the league’s anticipated restart in late July, the Houston Rockets practiced as a team on Saturday afternoon.
The practice from the league’s “bubble” site near Orlando was the team’s first since the 2019-20 season was suspended due to COVID-19 on March 11. Team facilities reopened in May, but those were only for individual player workouts under strict physical distancing protocols.
By contrast, Saturday’s activity was a traditional contact practice. While the Rockets arrived in Florida on Thursday night, they were not allowed to practice until today — since all NBA personnel entering the Disney bubble are required to test negative for COVID-19 on the first two days after their arrival and before being allowed into the broader complex.
“Typical Rockets practice,” veteran defensive ace P.J. Tucker said on Zoom after its conclusion. “Exactly as we always practice.”
From the @NBA, here's footage from earlier today of the first #Rockets practice at the bubble in Florida: pic.twitter.com/QdHhuH4BnI
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) July 12, 2020
“It was amazing to see everybody and be around everybody,” added guard Ben McLemore. “It felt great to be back out there on the floor.”
Since players were extensively tested both before and after traveling to Florida, close contact on the practice court is allowed, with the league designing its protocols to greatly reduce the risk of any player having the virus at that time. Courtesy of the NBA, select clips are available.
Head coach Mike D’Antoni said the Rockets are still building their way up to five-on-five work after the extended hiatus. On Saturday’s first day, D’Antoni said his team went over all of their offensive and defensive principles, along with studying film. They then did various on-court drills.
Coach D'Antoni on today's practice: "We went over all of our offense and defensive principles in film…It's going to be a process, and everyday we'll adjust our practice to how they're feeling." #Rockets
— Alykhan Bijani (@Rockets_Insider) July 11, 2020
According to the Rockets, the best news after such a long layoff is that they remain in good shape, physically. “To be honest, we looked good today,” McLemore said after Saturday’s practice. “It’s not shocking. I know a lot of our guys stayed in shape and found ways to stay active.”
When D’Antoni was asked about his team’s conditioning level, Houston’s head coach replied: “From the looks of today, good.”
Ben McLemore on the "game shape" of the #Rockets after the long NBA hiatus:
"To be honest, we looked good today. It's not shocking. I know a lot of our guys stayed in shape and found ways to stay active."
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) July 11, 2020
Houston’s All-Star backcourt of James Harden and Russell Westbrook has yet to arrive in Florida, and neither has newcomer Luc Mbah a Moute. As a result, none were participants in Saturday’s practice. All are expected to arrive within the next few days, according to D’Antoni.
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The Rockets (40-24) are entering the NBA’s restart tied for the No. 5 spot in the tightly packed Western Conference, and they can finish anywhere between No. 2 and No. 7 when the regular season concludes. They have already clinched their spot in the 2020 playoffs.
The Rockets will practice regularly over the coming days as they gear up for the first of three scrimmages on Friday, July 24. A week later, their 2019-20 regular season will finally resume on July 31 versus Dallas.
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PJ Tucker says the team didn't do anything out of the ordinary today. Watched film, went over some principles, etc… : "Typical Rockets practice. Same old, same old."
— Salman Ali (@SalmanAliNBA) July 11, 2020