HOUSTON (SportsRadio 610)- After sweeping a back-to-back over the weekend in Detroit and Dallas, the Rockets returned to Toyota Center Monday and did something they haven't been able to do in close to a month: Go through a full, live practice.
The Rockets completed their back-to-back sweep on Saturday night and don't play again until Tuesday when they host the Washington Wizards at Toyota Center. That's two days between games, a break they haven't enjoyed since the first week of the season and one they won't get again until the first half of the season ends March 3, so after taking Sunday off the Rockets took an opportunity to improve on the practice floor.
"Just being able to get in there and actually slow down and take learning from coaches and some of the vet players, I think we made another step in getting better today," Rockets forward Jae'Sean Tate said.
Don't get it twisted, the Rockets have held practices when they've had just one day in between games, but they've been light and some players were held out. Monday's practice was different.
"We were able to go live," Rockets head coach Stephen Silas said. "We went live in defensive stuff, we went live doing some offense, we were really intentional about our pick and roll coverage and protection, and it's one thing to walk through that stuff, but it's also another thing to go live, and that's what we were able to do."
There wasn't a full house at Monday's practice, Christian Wood, who didn't make the road trip due to a sprained ankle, was excused for personal reasons, but Danuel House did return after a three-week stretch away from team because of a back injury and self-isolation.
"I feel good," House said. "It's been a while since I've been out there. So everything is great to me."
House says he hopes to play Tuesday, "I plan on it," he said. Though, as of 2:00 pm Monday the Rockets had no submitted an injury report, so it is unknown if he will be available, however, the Rockets do know John Wall and Victor Oladipo will be able to play and Monday's practice was the first time the two All Star guards have shared the floor since the trade that brought Oladipo to Houston.
"It was good to do some live stuff for both of those guys, especially on the offensive end," Silas said. "Being tied together, for those two, on the defensive end, just because they're veteran players, is a little bit easier than the offensive part and trying to figure out how they can work together. That's going to be a process, but they're both willing to work with each other, they're happy to be together, and we'll see starting tomorrow what it looks like."
Silas said he enjoyed Monday's sneak peak of what his backcourt could look like.
"They both can bring the ball up the floor, they both can play off the ball, they both can take advantage of the little actions that we have to get the ball to one of them and then get to a quick pick and roll, and they're both downhill players, so it looked good."