Houston Needs To Speak Up Against Denver

Brian Barefield | 4/16/2021, 5:50 p.m.
Communication is the one thing that was missing on the defensive end on Wednesday night when the Indiana Pacers defeated …
Photo Credit/Houston Rockets

Communication is the one thing that was missing on the defensive end on Wednesday night when the Indiana Pacers defeated the Houston Rockets 132-124 at Toyota Center. During his pregame press conference, Rockets head coach Stephen Silas elaborated on how much he emphasized it to the team.

“Our communication and early communication leads to organization,” Silas said. “Especially in transition there was a lot of possessions where we were not talking and allowing them to get open shots. The communication was a big focus on Thursday.”

If the Rockets hope to win on Friday against the Nuggets they might want to scream out defensive assignments to each other as one of the best teams in the Western Conference takes the floor. MVP candidate Nikola Jokic is playing very inspired this year averaging nearly a triple-double on the season with 26.0 points, 10.9 rebounds and 8.8 assist.

“He (Jokic) is always a threat to score but one of his greatest gifts is his ability to pass the ball,” Rockets coach Stephen Silas said.

One person that Jokic will miss passing too is superstar Jamal Murray who tore his left ACL late in the game against the Golden State Warriors on Monday. Denver knows that Houston and their 1-9 record in the last 10 games does not speak to the level they play night in and out.

“I applaud Stephen Silas and the job he is doing for keeping his team together,” said Nuggets head coach Mike Malone. “Some people may get down on the 1-9 record, but this team competes even when they are down, they never stop playing and they get back in games and give themselves a chance.”

Tip-off is at 7 p.m. cst.

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