HOUSTON (SportsRadio 610)- With their regular season opener 11 days away, the Rockets gathered at Toyota Center and held practice for the first time since returning from Japan, and while nine days have past following Daryl Morey's infamous tweet supporting Hong Kong's freedom movement, the questions persist.
"It is a distraction," Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni said. "But preseason is a distraction, you're over in Asia, that's a distraction. Guys can handle it. We still got good work in. Everything's fine. It happens. It's regrettable that it happened, but as I said, our work will get done."
D'Antoni and his players have been forced to become spokesmen for the Rockets organization. Morey hasn't spoken publicly on the issue or commented further since his quasi-apology last Sunday. Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta threw his support behind Morey in an interview with ESPN last Saturday after rebuking Morey's tweet with one of his own, but that was the last time he has said anything on the topic. NBA commissioner Adam Silver did speak to reporters while in Asia last week, and the Rockets trust the league will guide them with how to handle things moving forward.
"These guys are professionals," Rockets forward P.J. Tucker said. They know what they're doing. As players, all we do is continue to be ourselves, continue to push the NBA and try to have a great season."
James Harden and Russell Westbrook met with reporters on three different occasions in Japan with Harden issuing an apology to the Chinese people last Monday. Harden didn't condem Morey or throw his support behind him. On Sunday he didn't offer an opinion when asked if he agreed with Morey's tweet.
"I'm staying out of it," he said while a Rockets PR staffer listened intently nearby. "I'm focusing on what we have and trying to get better. We're a week and a half away from the regular season."
Tucker offered a similar response.
"It's not really for me to comment on, honestly. At this point, it is what is and all we can do is continue to push forward."
The Rockets will practice Monday and Tuesday before hosting the San Antonio Spurs in a preseason game Wednesday. They'll play one more preseason game in Miami Friday before tipping off the new season October 24. If Sunday is any indication players and coaches will try and steer all conversation towards basketball, but until Fertitta, Morey and the NBA take control of the situation, the China/Hong Kong questions will continue to follow them, though Tucker doesn't believe it will be a problem.
"This time of the season everybody's getting in shape, getting ready for the season, focusing in. There are things that go on in life. This is still our job."
