Kevin Porter Jr. has been one of the few good points in a miserable season for the Rockets, writes Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. Porter has been spectacular in his first two games since being called in the G League, averaging 20.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 9.0 assists.
Houston bought Porter for a conditional choice in the second round in January, after he sold out of his Cleveland reception due to out-of-court issues. He was a small striker with the Cavaliers, but the Rockets changed him to a point guard after having experienced his position in the Rio Grande Valley.
“He has serenity with him”, said the coach Stephen Silas. “It is composed only for a small child, it is not too high, too low. This is a stabilizing influence on the rest of the group, when you have the guy who has the ball in his hands most of the time, which he was (Friday for him, to play that way and not be shaken by a race from the opposing team or a bad turn or play, just kind of having the next game mentality, it’s really cool for a young guy to be that way. He played two games for us. We are not going to overdo anything. But we think we have something there. “
There’s more to Houston:
- David Nwaba was designed to have an extended recovery time after spraining his wrist in a February 28 game, but he asked to play on Friday because many of his teammates are unavailable, says Feigen in a separate story. Surgery was recommended, which would take Nwaba off for six weeks. “Dave came up to me and said, ‘I am hurt, but it is difficult for me to sit there and watch when we are so disembodied and we are so wiped out and in trouble. And although I’m not 100 percent, maybe I can give a little, ‘” Said Silas. “Hearing that was definitely rewarding. It says a lot about him as a competitor and as a person and as someone you want in your group. “
- The absence of PJ Tucker, who is not playing while the Rockets try to make a switch, has put more pressure on a team that has already dealt with numerous injuries, notes Feigen in another piece. Houston signed guard Mason Jones to a 10-day contract to have enough active players for Friday’s game.
- The Rockets will use their 24th starting lineup in 37 games on Sunday, Feigen adds. Injuries and lack of continuity played an important role following the team’s 15 consecutive defeats. “The sooner we get to the point where we know who our starting team will be, what our rotation will be off the bench, the better it will be for the group,” Said Silas. “Obviously, it hasn’t been this way all season.”