Basketball

How the post-James Harden Rockets won: A culture shift and a promise kept


SAN ANTONIO — Technically, the game wasn’t even over yet. P.J. Tucker still had two free throws to take with 0.4 seconds left in the fourth quarter — but Stephen Silas’ emotions couldn’t be contained any longer.

A sudden outburst of joy and relief is unusual for the mild-mannered first-time head coach but given the emotional rollercoaster the Rockets had been on recently, nothing was off the table.

So as Demar DeRozan’s final shot careened off the rim and Tucker grabbed the ball, an exuberant Silas charged towards him, his hands clenched gesturing in victorious fashion. Silas was too pumped to see Tucker’s extended arm for a handshake — he went straight for the classic chest bump.

The embrace between Tucker and Silas was a brief moment of joy, but it told the larger story of a coach trusting the heart and soul of his team, dedication to defense, and a promise kept.

A few minutes earlier, Silas had…





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