The Houston Rockets have become the bane of critics lately. Many see the red uniforms and can’t stop but thinking of the player empowerment movement. Now Houston, specifically former MVP James Harden, is the embodiment of the worst end of that. This off-season, with two years left in their respective contracts, Harden and Russell Westbrook reportedly asked out of Houston. Both blamed team culture, even after the team recently moved in new directions with the coach and General Manager. Westbrook was traded, Harden still seeks one. Even if all of that irks you to your core, there’s one person in Houston you have and root for: Stephen Silas.
He doesn’t wear a uniform. If his past tells us anything, he’ll be in a slightly oversized suit. He may be holding a clipboard, or he may just let his finger pointing orchestrate for him. But either way, he’s the Houston Rocket worthy of your praise.
Silas’ Journey
After graduating from and playing basketball at Brown, Silas has been an assistant in the NBA for twenty years. His first gig was working for his father, Paul Silas, on the staff with the Charlotte Hornets. After bouncing around the league as an assistant and scout, Silas spent the last three seasons working with Rick Carlisle‘s Dallas Mavericks. In Dallas, he was responsible in much the same way an offensive coordinator would be in football. His job was to figure out how to get the Mavs to best get the ball in the basket. Sure, most of us see Luka Doncic and think of the simplest form of the game: you put the round thing in the circle thing more times than the other team. Luka’s good at that, so easy job, right?
But while in Dallas, Silas did far more than letting Doncic be himself. He elevated the guy Doncic could be. Luka was an All-NBA player in just his second season in the NBA. He was the focal point of an offense that was the most efficient in NBA history: 115.8 points per 100 possessions. Silas was instrumental in that development. He perfectly orchestrated an offense even all-pro defenders Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Patrick Beverley struggled to contain in the playoffs. Silas’ short 1/5 Pick and Roles, along with space and pace he demands his offenses play at, creates nightmares for coaches all over the NBA.
A Long Time Coming
Stephen Silas stepped to Houston when they had a former MVP distributor in Westbrook and a former MVP scorer, with historic levels of efficiency and production, in James Harden. Now many wonder if he’ll ever have even one of them in uniform while he’s calling the shots.
This follows a season where many questioned, for what felt like the thousandth time, the hiring practices in professional sports. Steve Nash, a two-time MVP winner who retired in 2015, was hired by the Brooklyn Nets with no coaching experience. The NBA does not have a “Rooney Rule,” and was criticized for the lack of head coaching diversity in wake of Nash’s hiring. Stephen Silas’ long arduous journey for his first head coaching job embodies that. He followed “the right steps” and was in “the right circles” for two decades before his name seriously popped up. Silas is one of just seven Black NBA head coaches in a league that is over 80-percent Black.
Handling the Divas
Since he was hired, and the chaos in Houston turned from smoke to fire, he has maintained a steady and unwavering cool demeanor. He was told Harden would show up to individual workouts last Sunday night, so that’s what he calmly told the media. He was told Harden would join the team soon, so that’s what he told the media after Harden missed said workout. When Harden showed back up, less than two hours after another trade rumor, Silas’ response was simple: “he showed up”.
Rockets coach Stephen Silas confirms that James Harden got tested in Houston today. “That’s pretty much all I know,” he said. https://t.co/HVl2OmoJy9
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) December 8, 2020
Few head coaches could approach the situation with such a steady hand. Many would make some hard-nosed, old school speech about how “you can only coach guys that are here,” or “he’s holding his teammates back. ” But what good would that response have done? Further upset a temperamental star?
Further, without going down that old school coaching path, Silas has clearly mastered the coach speak. When asked what it meant to have James Harden back, he said:
Stephen Silas says James Harden’s arrival (a few days late) to training camp shows he is committed to the Rockets
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) December 8, 2020
“Him being here shows a level of commitment to what we have going and what we have going forward and that’s that.” pic.twitter.com/TU8qyiTgyL
New Faces
Silas continues to sing the praises of the lesser discussed Rockets. He enthusiastically spoke about the growth of Jae’Sean Tate, a free-agent signing from the New Zealand Basketball League. He went out of his way to talk about how dangerous a new addition Chrisitan Wood could be at the Center position while also discussing the benefits of Wood and new Rocket DeMarcus Cousins being on the floor simultaneously.
His system has his players excited. Danuel House was impressed by the speed Silas demands of his players. Houstonian and Rocket Gerald Green spoke about the accountability; a keyword in Houston’s off-season that Silas’ offense requires. Both sang praises of the new play caller in their media availability on Tuesday.
Silas is a young, rookie head coach who has more than earned his opportunity. He walked into a franchise, owner, and fan base who have become accustomed to high (even if overly optimistic) expectations. Now, as the Rockets become a dumpster fire, Silas has pushed through and looks to make his mark. Even if that’s without any MVP, and just John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Christian Wood, and other solid role players. Regardless of whom they have in uniform next week, month or year, Silas signed a four-year contract in late October. One he probably should have been offered years ago. Now he’s got a shot to prove it.
That will be worth rooting for. No matter who’s in uniform.
For more on sports, sneakers, and the Houston Rockets, follow me @painsworth512 for more, and give our podcast “F” In Sports a listen wherever you listen to podcasts!
