The Houston Rockets have hired Stephen Silas as their new head coach, per Adrian Wojnarowski. He previously held a position as a Mavericks assistant and is the son of former NBA player and head coach Paul Silas. His hiring in Houston will mark his first head coaching gig.
Woj reported that the Rockets admired Silas’ ‘offensive ingenuity’ among other things. He’s coached a handful of successful offenses, including the 2019-20 Mavericks, who posted the highest Offensive Rating in NBA history.
What Silas Means for Houston
Silas’ arrival marks a brand new era of Houston Rockets basketball, although it’s tough to predict what that new era will look like. The Rockets’ current state is seemingly up in the air, with many uncertainties surrounding their atypical roster. New general manager Rafael Stone will have his hands full in constructing a winning team for Silas to work with.
Silas’ hiring comes not long after coach Mike D’Antoni and general manager Daryl Morey stepped down from their positions in Houston. Morey and D’Antoni formed one of the most innovative offenses in NBA history, making the playoffs every year together. However, they could never get over the hump and reach the NBA Finals. Ironically, their innovation often led to their demise.
Silas could very easily serve as a breath of fresh air for Rockets fans tired of repeated playoff disappointment. After all, he’ll have the luxury of coaching two former MVP’s. It’s also unlikely that he’ll implement as extreme a coaching style as D’Antoni did, which might be a blessing in disguise.
The Rockets have experimented with countless unique blueprints. They spearheaded the NBA’s transition to a 3-point shooting league and raised plenty of eyebrows when embracing a ‘micro ball’ lineup this past season.
Perhaps all they need is some normalcy, which may come in the form of a new head coach.
