Tag: John Lucas

Stephen Silas returns to Rockets after one-game bereavement absence

After missing Sunday’s game due to the death of his father, Paul Silas, #Rockets head coach Stephen Silas was back on the sidelines Tuesday night.

After missing Sunday’s game to mourn the death of his father, renowned NBA champion player and coach Paul Silas, Houston Rockets head coach Stephen Silas was back with the team and coaching on the sidelines for Tuesday’s home game versus the Phoenix Suns.

In pregame comments to media members, Silas addressed both his personal situation and the inspiring win the Rockets put together over the Bucks in his absence, which was dedicated to Silas. With Silas out, lead assistant John Lucas took over as acting head coach.

On Tuesday, with Silas back at the office, here’s a look at what he said during his pregame press conference at Toyota Center:

I’m very proud to be my dad’s son. I’m very proud that people see him in me. Whenever it is my time comes, I want people to say the same things they said over the last couple of days about him, hopefully they’ll say that about me.

It was obviously a hard time for me and my family. To watch these guys try their hardest, and play the game they played, it just shows the character in that locker room. The words they said after meant a lot.

Tuesday’s game between the Rockets and Suns is the second of a season-high seven-game homestand at Toyota Center. It isn’t known whether Silas could miss future games due to services for his father.

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As Suns look for revenge, Rockets vow to be tough team to play against

“This game is going to be one they feel they can get right, because they feel like we started them on their downward spiral,” interim #Rockets coach John Lucas says of the Suns.

HOUSTON — A lot has transpired since the Rockets won in Phoenix 11 days ago. That win broke the Suns’ six-game winning streak and started Phoenix on an uncharacteristic 1-5 run, including a four-game losing streak.

“They have lost four in a row, so this game is going to be one they feel they can get right because they feel like we started them on their downward spiral,” interim head coach John Lucas II said about facing the Suns on Tuesday. “This is another opportunity for us to get better against a team that is one of the elite teams in the league.”

The last time the teams met, Phoenix was without point guard Chris Paul, but he will be in the starting lineup on Tuesday. The same can’t be said for his backcourt mate, Devin Booker, who will miss his second consecutive game with a hamstring injury.

Since that Dec. 2 matchup in Phoenix, the Rockets have gone 2-2 in their last four games, with impressive wins over Philadelphia and Milwaukee. As a team, Houston has started to find continuity with each other, and it is showing late in games from the young group.

“Our theme has been that we may not win a lot of games, but we want to be a tough team to play against,” Lucas said after Monday’s practice. “We are trying to be a tough out as we get better.”

Second-year guard Jalen Green knows the task will be difficult when facing a team that will try to prevent him from having a repeat performance of his 30-point game in the Dec. 2 victory.

“I am looking to get downhill,” Green said after Monday’s practice. “A lot of times, they want to take me away from the 3-point line. So, downhill is another option, and I just try to take the big (center) depending on what coverage he is in.”

Against Phoenix, Houston looks to extend its four-game home winning streak. The tip on Tuesday night is at 7 p.m. Central.

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Rockets coach John Lucas loves clutch scoring, impeccable defense by Jalen Green

“I think Jalen had one of his finest games,” John Lucas says of Jalen Green. “He made his free throws. He attacked. What is even funnier was that his defense was impeccable.” #Rockets

HOUSTON — Rockets guard Jalen Green was unhappy after Thursday’s 118-109 loss to the San Antonio Spurs, a team that had lost 11 consecutive games and was not playing good basketball in recent weeks.

Green and his teammates came into that game after a dramatic double-overtime win over the Philadelphia 76ers, and there may have been something of an emotional letdown.

Green took that loss to the Spurs to heart because he was not nearly as effective as he needed to be, scoring just 14 points on 5-of-17 shooting (29.4%) from the field.

“I know we could have played a lot better, including myself,” a dejected Green said in the visiting locker room in San Antonio.

Three nights later, Green bounced back with one of his best performances of the 2022-23 season, scoring 12 of his game-high 30 points in the fourth quarter as Houston defeated Milwaukee, 97-92. It was his sixth 30-point game this season and third in nine games.

“I just know that my team depends on me in situations like that,” Green said of Sunday’s fourth-quarter outburst, which included three free throws in the game’s final minute to break open what had been a tie score. “All that hard work I put in is paying off.”

The win was an emotional one for the Rockets, who played without head coach Stephen Silas following the death of his father, Paul Silas, a former NBA player and head coach. Assistant coach John Lucas is filling in as acting head coach and liked the overall effort by his team on Sunday night, and particularly Green’s play.

“I think Jalen had one of his finest games,” Lucas said postgame of Green, who also tied his season-high with 7 rebounds on Sunday night versus the Bucks. “He made his free throws. He attacked. What is even funnier was that his defense was impeccable.”

In this season’s eight wins for the Rockets (8-18), Green is averaging 27.6 points on 50.7% shooting, and he has been instrumental in Houston’s current four-game winning streak at Toyota Center.

“There is nothing like being at home,” a smiling Green said postgame. “I just feel comfortable being at home.”

In Game 2 of a season-long homestand of seven games, Green and the Rockets hope to build on that momentum when Phoenix visits Toyota Center on Tuesday. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. Central.

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Led by John Lucas and playing for Stephen Silas, Rockets emphasize defense, accountability in win

“We had a really good day of practice,” John Lucas said after Houston’s big win over Milwaukee. “We talked about accountability, being professional, and starting to grow up.”

Three nights after one of their worst losses of the 2022-23 NBA season (a largely uncompetitive loss at San Antonio in a battle for last place in the Western Conference), the Houston Rockets responded with arguably their best performance in Sunday’s win over the Milwaukee Bucks, widely viewed as a legitimate title contender.

What changed? Sure, there were emotions involved. The Rockets were admittedly playing on behalf of head coach Stephen Silas, who missed Sunday’s game after the death of his father, renowned NBA lifer Paul Silas, earlier that day. Veteran coach John Lucas, normally Houston’s lead assistant, filled in as acting head coach.

But beyond the Silas angle, and prior to Silas temporarily leaving the team, the team apparently had a breakthrough at practice.

Lucas elaborated in his postgame remarks:

That’s a good win, for us. We had a really good day of practice, the other day. We talked about accountability, being professional, and starting to grow up. We’ve got to stop hiding behind being young. We’re better than young.

Houston (8-18) has won four straight home games at Toyota Center and is 5-4 in its last nine games, overall. Milwaukee (19-7) lost for just the second time in its previous nine outings.

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Jalen Green did the heavy lifting on offense with a game-high 30 points on strong efficiency, but Lucas was more excited to talk about the second-year guard’s defense, which he called impeccable in Sunday’s win. Lucas and Houston’s team leaders were also excited to talk about the defensive contributions of rookie forward Jabari Smith Jr., who helped limit two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to 16 points (tying a season-low) on 7-of-17 shooting (41.2%).

“That’s a big assignment, especially for a rookie,” said Kevin Porter Jr., who had 18 points (50% FG) and a team-high 7 assists for the Rockets.

“But we trusted Jabari, and he handled it well,” Porter added. “That was a near-perfect game for Jabari.”

“Jabari Smith’s defense was unbelievable,” Lucas surmised. “It was the defensive end that won it.”

Antetokounmpo had scored 28 or more points on at least 50% shooting in each of his previous nine games for the Bucks.

Smith, who had a team-high 10 rebounds and 3 steals, let out a primal roar after securing a critical rebound in the closing seconds, which was followed by swishing two free throws to secure the final 97-92 margin. In postgame comments, he elaborated on what it was for.

“When we can come together and show that we’re growing and going in the right direction, it’s always good to let out some emotion,” Smith said. “Cause we’re working. Whether people see it or not, we are.”

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‘That was for coach’: Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr. will Rockets past Bucks

With Stephen Silas out after his father’s death, Jalen Green (on offense) and Jabari Smith Jr. (on defense) led an inspired #Rockets effort in an emotional, feel-good win over Milwaukee.

Jalen Green scored a game-high 30 points on strong efficiency and rookie forward Jabari Smith Jr. made a huge defensive impact, leading Houston’s late rally in a win over Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks, 97-92 (box score).

It was an emotional night for the Rockets, who had John Lucas as acting head coach in place of Stephen Silas after the death of Silas’ father, renowned NBA lifer Paul Silas.

The Rockets (8-18) won their fourth straight game at Toyota Center, improving to 5-5 at home on the 2022-23 season. That’s especially good news since Houston has its next six games at home. Milwaukee (19-7), viewed by most as an NBA title contender, lost Sunday for just the second time in its last nine games.

The Rockets trailed by seven early in the fourth quarter, but they limited Milwaukee to 1-of-8 shooting (12.5%) and forced six turnovers over the game’s final five minutes. Smith played a huge role with his defense on the two-time MVP and by making two clinching free throws after securing a critical rebound in the closing seconds. For the game, Smith led the Rockets with 10 rebounds and 3 steals.

Smith did the heavy lifting on defense, and while his effort there may have contributed to a 1-of-9 shooting night (11.1%) on the other end, the Rockets still had enough offense thanks to their backcourt.

Green scored 30 points on 12-of-21 shooting (57.1%), including 3-of-6 on 3-pointers (50%), and he made three free throws in the final minute to break open what had been a tie game. Backcourt mate Kevin Porter Jr. added 18 points (50% FG) and a team-high 7 assists, along with a key deflection and steal as part of a late defensive surge.

Antetokounmpo grabbed a game-high 18 rebounds for the Bucks to go with 16 points, but he was limited to 7-of-17 shooting (41.2%) on Sunday, thanks largely to Smith’s defense.

Scroll on for highlights, analysis and postgame interview reaction. Houston (8-18) plays the second game of its season-long homestand on Tuesday versus Phoenix, with the tip at 7 p.m. Central.

Stephen Silas taking time away from Rockets after death of father, Paul Silas

John Lucas is leading the #Rockets as head coach for the time being after the death of Paul Silas, father of Houston’s Stephen Silas.

Paul Silas, a former NBA coach with multiple teams and a championship player with the Boston Celtics, died Sunday morning at the age of 79. His son, Stephen Silas, is head coach of the Houston Rockets.

“The Fertitta family and the Rockets organization are deeply saddened by the passing of Paul Silas, father of Rockets head coach Stephen Silas,” the team said in a statement. “Our heartfelt thoughts are with Stephen and his family during this difficult time.”

“Paul Silas was a three-time NBA champion and a premier rebounder and defender during his 16 seasons before serving as coach for over two decades, including several years with Stephen working alongside him,” Sunday’s statement concludes.

Per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, Silas will not be with the team for Sunday’s home game versus Milwaukee. Veteran assistant John Lucas will replace Silas on the sidelines, as he did when Silas missed time in October after contracting COVID-19.

With 387 career victories, the elder Silas ranks in the top 55 of all-time coaching wins after stints with the San Diego Clippers, Charlotte/New Orleans Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers and Charlotte Bobcats. Stephen worked for his father in some sort of assistant capacity at multiple stops along the way, effectively giving him an introduction to the world of NBA coaching.

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Stephen Curry hit an unbelievable shot and a Rockets assistant coach had the funniest reaction possible

Rockets assistant John Lucas had the best seat in the house.

The Warriors finally won their first road game of the season and the victory included yet another absolutely remarkable highlight from Stephen Curry.

Curry hit a fadeaway 3-pointer that no one would even dare try in a video game unless their controller was somehow glitching out. But because he is who he is, the shot went in, and it was enough for him to hit the opposing crowd with his infamous “night night” celebration.

It was a crucial shot to seal the deal for the Warriors, who desperately needed a win after a sluggish start to the season. Watch the highlight and you will see why no one, not even Rockets assistant John Lucas, could believe what Curry had done.

Were you too distracted by Curry’s shot to notice the way Lucas reacted?

No worries, we’ve got you covered. Take a look at how Lucas responded from Houston’s bench:

Lucas, who had the best seat in the house to catch a view of Curry’s 3-pointer, threw himself all the way back on the bench while throwing his hands and feet in the air.

From a fully reclined position, Lucas looked like he found himself on the battlefield in the final scene of a war movie. It was quite a sight to behold.

But when Curry is playing as well as he is right now — he is averaging a career-high 32.3 points while also connecting on more 3-pointers per game (5.3) than ever before — you have no choice but to react that way, even if you are employed by the other team.

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Rockets working to better integrate Alperen Sengun with starters

Rockets center Alperen Sengun struggled in Monday’s preseason loss at Miami, and John Lucas and Stephen Silas outlined the challenges in adjusting to his new role alongside starters.

Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun clearly struggled on offense in Monday’s preseason loss at Miami. In postgame remarks, acting coach John Lucas — replacing usual head coach Stephen Silas, who has been sidelined with COVID-19 — acknowledged a stylistic challenge in integrating Sengun with the starters.

“Got to get Al-P (Sengun) going at some point,” Lucas told Houston Chronicle beat writer Jonathan Feigen after the game.

Lucas continued his remarks:

We’re asking Al-P to do something that he hasn’t done before. Right now, basically, he’s a roll guy in what we’re doing, and we don’t go through him. You can’t expect a 20-year-old to be happy about that. We have to find a common ground from him to get the most out of him, and I think we can do that.

I’m spending more time with him to help him be successful. It’s not set up for him to be a primary scorer right now.

Silas, who returned to the team in time for Wednesday’s practice at Toyota Center, offered his perspective on Sengun’s adjustments.

Among his comments:

For Al-P, it’s been hard. Al-P’s strength is having the basketball and he hasn’t had the ball much. He’s been a pick-and-roll player. As we go through training camp, which is still going on, he’ll get his post-ups and he’ll get his elbow catches, and it’ll be more comfortable for him.

He’s going to have to do both. He’s going to have to be able to be a guy we can go to, and he can make plays for himself or his teammates, but also pick, roll, take the dunker (spot), space and have guys play off him. That adjustment has been a little bit tough for him, but we’ll definitely get there.

When Sengun came off the bench last season as a rookie, he often served as the hub for Houston’s second unit. In short, the offense generally ran through him when he was on the floor, and Sengun frequently used his gifts as a savvy low-post shot creator and as an adept passer to create offense and make plays for his teammates.

But now that Sengun is expected to be a starter in 2022-23, replacing Christian Wood, giving him the same usage in a group that also features playmakers Jalen Green, Kevin Porter Jr. and Eric Gordon is more of a challenge. Thus, Sengun’s usage is likely to go down, proportionally, and he’ll need to make an impact in other ways.

Sengun did fare well, offensively, in Houston’s preseason opener versus San Antonio, scoring 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting (83.3%) in 20 minutes while also dishing out 3 assists. But he missed the next exhibition due to a dental procedure, and Monday was a struggle.

Sengun and the Rockets only have one exhibition remaining on Friday in Indiana, so it appears likely for this ongoing integration process to linger into the regular season, as well.

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Takeaways: Kevin Porter Jr., Jalen Green flourish, but Alperen Sengun struggles in loss to Miami

Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green played well, but the Rockets struggled to overcome a bad night by Alperen Sengun in Monday’s loss at Miami. Here’s our look at the key takeaways.

Houston’s starting backcourt of Kevin Porter Jr. (21 points, 6 assists) and Jalen Green (25 points, 5 assists) played well Monday, but starting center Alperen Sengun struggled in his preseason return as the Miami Heat defeated the visiting Rockets, 118-110 (box score).

Sengun, who missed Friday’s win due to a dental procedure, had just 2 points and 4 rebounds on 1-of-5 shooting (20.0%) while fouling five times in only 17 minutes. His struggles helped Miami erase an early 16-point lead by the Rockets, who came out firing behind Porter and Green. The backcourt mates combined to hit 14-of-31 shots (45.2%) in 28 minutes apiece, including 8-of-17 on 3-pointers (47.1%).

Rookie forward Tari Eason continued to play well off Houston’s bench, registering 17 points and 12 rebounds in 28 minutes while making 8-of-11 shots (72.7%) from the field. Third-year forward KJ Martin continued to shine in the absence of several rotation regulars with 13 points and 4 assists in 28 minutes, all while shooting 5-of-9 overall (55.6%) and 3-of-6 on 3-pointers (50.0%).

Jabari Smith Jr. (left ankle sprain), Eric Gordon (rest), Daishen Nix (lower back soreness) and head coach Stephen Silas (health and safety protocols) were not part of Monday’s action for the Rockets, while Jae’Sean Tate left early with right ankle soreness.

With Silas missing a second straight exhibition, lead assistant John Lucas again filled in as Houston’s acting head coach.

On the other side, Caleb Martin (right knee tendinitis), Tyler Herro (right knee contusion), and Omer Yurtseven (left ankle soreness) were out injured for the Heat. Miami also chose to hold out veterans Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Kyle Lowry for rest purposes.

Among those playing, veteran wing Max Strus led Miami with 24 points in 24 minutes, including 5-of-10 on 3-pointers (50.0%). Rookie Nikola Jovic was impressive off the bench with 15 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists, including several minutes in a direct matchup with Sengun. Miami was +24 in Jovic’s 23 minutes, best of any player.

Scroll on for postgame interviews, clips, and analysis. The Rockets (2-1) will conclude their preseason schedule on Friday at Indiana, while Miami (3-1) wraps up by hosting New Orleans on Wednesday.

John Lucas leading Jalen Green, Rockets with honesty, tough love

“To (whom) much is given, much is expected,” John Lucas says of talented second-year prospect Jalen Green. “I very rarely give Jalen compliments, because I expect so much from him.”

HOUSTON — If there is one thing that nearly everyone knows about Rockets assistant coach John Lucas II, it’s that he is brutally honest. If you ask him a question, you should be prepared for an answer that might have you considering why you asked it in the first place.

Those who know Lucas understand everything he does has positive vibes and is without malicious intent. He tells the truth, so if there is an issue needing to be fixed, his hope is to help with that.

That is why players come from all over the world to talk and work out with the No. 1 selection in the 1976 NBA draft by the Rockets. Generally speaking, he helps players improve. Few current players know that more than prized second-year shooting guard Jalen Green, who has been lucky enough to pick the brain of Lucas during practices and games for more than a year.

That is why it was not awkward when Lucas made pointed statements after an efficient 23-point outing by Green during Houston’s 116-100 preseason victory over Toronto on Friday night.

“To (whom) much is given, much is expected,” Lucas said to describe the second-year phenom. “I very rarely give Jalen compliments, because I expect so much from him. He got tired tonight and reverted to overdribbling, but he played very well.”

“That was the first time he has seen what the regular season is going to be,” Lucas said of Green’s performance. “People are not going to let him have another freshman year. We keep talking about those last eight or nine games from last season. It is going to be much tougher. He has to get in better shape and get more physical and he is going to get it done. I believe in our backcourt.”

Lucas was there in January 2022 when Green went through a three-game stretch shooting 6-for-40 from the field, including a game at Golden State when he missed all 11 attempts from the field. During that time, Lucas spent a significant amount of time after practice going through shooting drills with Green, which eventually paid off as he averaged 20.3 points per game for the remainder of the season.

“I try to be as coachable as possible because I know it is coming from a good place,” Green said postgame. “His expectations are super high, and I get a taste of it every day.”

Lucas served as acting head coach for the Rockets in Friday’s win due to the absence of Stephen Silas, who has missed the last few days while in the NBA’s health and safety protocol. Houston hopes to have Silas back in time for its next preseason game, which takes place Monday in Miami. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. Central.

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