At Thursday’s introductory press conference, new head coach Stephen Silas said he wanted his Houston Rockets to be “less predictable” next season in their playing styles on both offense and defense.
On Friday, he elaborated further on what that might mean, and why a change from permanent “small ball” is likely in the cards.
In an appearance on ESPN’s First Take, Silas was asked about his commitment to Houston’s smaller lineups. Here’s how he replied:
It’s really based on how Rafael [Stone] and I, and mostly Rafael, puts the roster together. The small ball was very much a product of the roster that they had. Obviously, I want to have multiple ways of playing.
To have playoff success, you have to have multiple ways of playing on both ends of the floor. So, having a traditional center would be good for me, so I would be able to play small like they’ve done in the past and like I did 15 years ago when I worked for Don Nelson. And then play big, with a rolling center and someone playing in the dunker [slot], and the matchups would be a little bit better for our group. And then the defense and rebounding would be a little bit better, as well. My goal is to have multiple ways of playing on both ends of the floor, and Rafael is looking to put together a roster so that I can do so.
Silas went on to explain how having a center could potentially help James Harden and Russell Westbrook in the playoffs by making the Rockets more difficult for opponents to prepare for. Here’s what he said:
You use the regular season to prepare for the playoffs, right? If you have multiple ways of playing, if you have the ability to play bigger or play smaller, now when you get to the playoffs, you have multiple tools in your toolbox to go to. There won’t be quite as many isolations as we’ve seen in the past. Those guys have had to work so hard to get to their greatness, and get to what makes them really successful. But in the playoffs, it stalls because there aren’t really third and fourth options to go to.
From my point of view, optionality is going to be everything. Getting a little bit more ball movement, more player movement, and letting those guys play on the move a little bit more. So they won’t see quite as many double teams, and then as the playoffs come, we can go to that stuff to where it won’t be quite as predictable, especially in a 5- to 7-game series where you’re trying to deal with someone who is preparing and sees you game after game. You have to have something else to go to, and that’s what I’m planning to do.
Friday’s complete interview exchange between Silas and ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith and Max Kellerman can be watched below.
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