The Houston Rockets held their first team practice last week with James Harden already in attendance but still without Russell Westbrook. The former MVP tested positive for COVID-19 and remains in quarantine, but Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni appeared optimistic that his roster for the NBA season restart will be completed soon.
Westbrook was MIA during Houston's team practice on Sunday, but according to D'Antoni, recovery of the 31-year-old is progressing and is getting closer to full recovery.
"I do hear that he's in pretty good shape, and he's been ramping up," USA Today reported the Houston tactician as saying.
To be clear, though, the chance of Westbrook rejoining the Rockets in time for the team's first scrimmage with the Toronto Raptors is not too high. Even as the point guard is in better than he was last week, he only gets the clearance to travel to Orlando when tested negative for the coronavirus twice.
Upon arrival in Florida's Disney World Resort, the nine-time All-Star will again be isolated and will be allowed to join his teammates after clearing two rounds of tests that will show he is no longer sick and will not infect others.
So it will take a bit of time before Westbrook can scrimmage with his Rockets squad, but as the same report noted, the case of Harden should be an inspiration. Harden was also isolated but not confirmed to have caught the virus.
The shooting guard traveled to Orlando days after his teammates, but as D'Antoni pointed out, his two superstars continued working out while in quarantine in order to stay fit for the games ahead. It would seem that the tactic paid off as Harden was able to practice with the Rockets days after his touchdown in Florida.
D'Antoni can only hope that the same will be seen with Westbrook, although it's not yet known when the player will board the plane that will take him to NBA's bubble city.
Clutch Points said Westbrook recovering fully and playing in top form will surely benefit the Rockets' game. He, after all, is knocking down more than 33 points per game with a shooting accuracy of nearly 60% in the few weeks before the games came to a pause in March.
D'Antoni's gameplay normally sees the Rockets spread out on the floor that creates potential openings for shooters. On Westbrook's part, the situation sets him up on one-on-one matches that he usually dominates en route to slamming the rim.
In addition, Westbrook's ability to clear the boards will be crucial to Houston's campaign in Orlando. The Rockets having control in the area will surely contribute to how far the team can go in the bubble games, which likely will be impacted if Westbrook will run out of steam.
