housgoldfried

Painful memories ran through Christian Wood’s mind as he signed a three-year, $41 million contract at the Houston Rockets’ offices in November.

Cut by a team in China before even playing in a game.

Through it all, Wood believed in himself and was finally rewarded for it this offseason.

“The long-term contract meant a lot to me,” Wood, 25, told The Undefeated in a phone interview on Sunday. “It showed me how hard I worked and how far I came from going from a minimum and non-guaranteed contract to being waived a number of times that I couldn’t even tell you to signing three years, $41 million. It’s incredible.

“Not to be cocky, but I actually think I’m worth more than that.”

The 6-foot-10 center is averaging 23.6 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game on a Rockets roster that also includes stars James Harden and John Wall. A Most Improved Player of the Year candidate in the early going, Wood has been a bright spot...

the-staying-power-of-christian-wood

The Staying Power of Christian Wood

HOUSTON – In anticipation of the start of the 2020-21 NBA season and the goal to return with a limited number of fans and guests, the Houston Rockets and Toyota Center have established health and safety protocols to create a safe, yet fun environment for fans.

The Rockets and Toyota Center have developed the following protocols and guidelines in partnership with the City of Houston, the Houston Venue and Event Task Force, Memorial Hermann, and the NBA: 

In addition, Toyota Center has also joined the Houston Clean campaign which was formed by the Houston Venues & Events Task Force along with local hospitality, tourism, and transportation industries.  Houston Clean is aimed at helping guests easily identify safety measures in place to protect guests and staff.

As part of Houston Clean, Toyota Center pledges to maintain the highest standards of public safety and health. This includes becoming the latest facility to achieve GBAC STAR Accreditation status. The GBAC STAR Accreditation program is the industry’s leading outbreak prevention, response, and recovery accreditation for facilities.

Toyota Center will continue to research, curate and implement the most medically effective sanitation and social distancing measures available for the health of their guests and staff.

Today’s preseason game vs. San Antonio will be open to a limited number of employees, friends and family. The Rockets will open the regular season on Wednesday, December 23 vs the Oklahoma City Thunder. A limited number of single game tickets for the first six games will go on sale tomorrow, Friday, December 18 at 2:00 p.m. on www.rockets.com.

Fan cutouts will also be available for purchase this season for those looking to support the team, but cannot attend a game at Toyota Center. All proceeds benefit the Clutch City Foundation and Children’s Memorial Hermann. Please visit www.rockets.com for more details.

rockets-and-toyota-center-announce-arena-protocol-for-your-safety-2020-21-nba-season

Rockets and Toyota Center Announce Arena Protocol for Your Safety: 2020-21 NBA Season

photos-9-11-day-of-remembrance

Photos: 9/11 Day of Remembrance

During a typical regular season, P.J. Tucker spends his off days checking out sneaker shops, no matter what city he is in. When the NBA season was put on hold, Tucker's off-day shopping trips came to a halt.

But that didn't stop his shopping sprees.

"I've bought more shoes during the coronavirus than I ever have," Tucker said with a laugh. "Probably in my entire life."

Tucker, known around the NBA as the league's most prolific sneakerhead, spent countless hours during the time when team facilities were shut down checking eBay to add to his collection.

Last month, Tucker actually flipped the script. Instead of buying shoes at auction, he sold them, auctioning off past game-worn playoff sneakers on the Houston Rockets' mobile app, as part of the team's efforts to provide relief to local Houston organizations impacted by the coronavirus.

In early April, he also launched an apparel capsule collection with The Better Generation, an upcoming Houston boutique, to raise money for the local Houston Food Bank and benefit community members in need.

Still, it's shopping that has been filling most of Tucker's time over the past four months...

espn-nbas-sneaker-king-in-the-bubble

ESPN: NBA's Sneaker King in the Bubble

Via the Ringer - Give it up for one of the game’s great innovators. Harden lives in the lab, in the sense that his increasingly isolated game seeks to control for all variables. By waving off traditional ball screens, he limited the defense’s ability to bring another defender his way. With an unprecedented focus on the stepback 3, he rendered most help defense irrelevant and tilted the balance in his favor. Any player can work on their moves. What Harden has done is build skill upon skill to challenge the basis for offense as we know it. Why bother thinking three moves ahead when you can just flip over the chessboard...

the-ringer-harden-the-top-scorer-in-the-nba

The Ringer: Harden the Top Scorer in the NBA

His season, which in many ways had only begun following a trade to the Rockets, was halted. There was the shock and uncertainty that was nearly universal amid the global coronavirus pandemic. But forward Robert Covington refused to allow himself to consider only what had been lost, or at least temporarily removed.

“You get to really appreciate the times you miss,” he said. “I look at it as good and bad. You learn more about yourself in this time.”

His attitude — to make the best of a bad situation — was not just about understanding how so many others are suffering in more immediate and severe ways, though that was of course a large part of the perspective he would consider.

Beyond that, as Covington discussed everything from his workouts to increased family time, he went back to a determination to accentuate a bright side he learned to see over the years and in sessions with a therapist last year.

Some of that comes from the training regimen many players have cited since the NBA season was suspended March 11. For a professional athlete looking to find benefits in such a difficult time, that would be a natural place to start.

“I’ve been working out,” Covington said. “I’ve been doing pretty good as far as trying to stay in shape. Of course, I want to stay safe. Once we come to a decision (on resuming the season), I’ll be ready for whatever route we take. It’s different not being able to play...

houston-chronicle-rockets-covington-determined-to-see-bright-side

Houston Chronicle: Rockets’ Covington determined to see bright side

we-miss-our-fans

We Miss Our Fans!

HOUSTON – Today, the NBA announced that Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni was named Western Conference Coach of the Month for February.  He has won the award 10 times in his career, including five times since joining Houston in 2016-17.

The Rockets won their past six games to finish February with a 9-2 mark.  Going back to games played on Jan. 22, Houston has the highest winning percentage in the Western Conference (.765; 13-4 mark).  The Rockets are 39-20 heading into tonight’s game at New York and are looking to win 40 games within the first 60 games of a season for the third time in four seasons under D’Antoni after doing so six times prior in franchise history.

Seven of Houston’s nine wins in February were by double-digits with the Rockets outscoring teams by an average of 7.9 points.  Rockets listed taller than 6’8” played a total of 33 minutes for the month.

The Rockets averaged 17.5 3-pointers made in February, which was 6.2 more per game than opponents.  Houston averaged 10.2 steals for the month while forcing 17.8 turnovers and committing just 12.8 tpg of its own.

With the Rockets last win at Boston on Feb. 29, D’Antoni tied Mike Fratello for the 20th-most wins in NBA history at 667.  Since he became head coach of the Rockets in 2016-17, Houston has the best winning percentage in the league (.695; 212-93 mark).

rockets-mike-dantoni-named-western-conference-coach-of-the-month-for-february

Rockets Mike D’Antoni Named Western Conference Coach of the Month for February

Helvetica Neue, colfax, colfax-web, Roboto, sans-serif