ORLANDO, FL - SEPTEMBER 6: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets looks on during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers during Game Two of the Western Conference Semifinals of the NBA Playoffs on September 6, 2020 at The AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

El entrenador de los Rockets, Stephen Silas, señaló el lunes que su equipo ha pasado el 80% de sus prácticas enfocándose en la defensa, pero el 100% de ese tiempo del campo de entrenamiento ha transcurrido sin el escolta estrella James Harden, lo que ha llevado a una situación turbia en Houston. 

Silas citó los protocolos COVID-19 de la NBA para la ausencia de Harden el domingo del primer entrenamiento del equipo, pero el lunes el entrenador expresó ambigüedad con respecto al estado del escolta estrella. «No está aquí y tiene una razón», dijo Silas. «Pero depende de él decirle a quien sea cuál es el motivo». Silas dijo que «no hay un calendario» para el regreso de Harden, y calificó su ausencia como «un revés» para un equipo de los Rockets que trabaja para unirse con un nuevo entrenador y varios jugadores nuevos como John Wall, Christian Wood y DeMarcus Cousins. Silas dijo que no estaba seguro de si Harden había regresado a Houston, donde el resto del equipo participa en los entrenamientos del campo de entrenamiento. «Quieres que tu mejor jugador esté aquí», dijo.

ORLANDO, FL – SEPTEMBER 6: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets looks on during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers during Game Two of the Western Conference Semifinals of the NBA Playoffs on September 6, 2020 at The AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

Rockets coach Stephen Silas pointed out Monday his team has spent 80% of their practices focusing on defense, but 100% of that training camp time has elapsed without star guard James Harden, leading to a murky situation in Houston.

Silas cited the NBA’s COVID-19 protocols for Harden’s absence Sunday from the team’s first training camp workout, but on Monday the coach expressed ambiguity regarding the star guard’s status.

“He’s not here, and he has a reason,” Silas said. “But that’s on him to tell whoever what the reason is.”https://watch.nba.com/embed?id=1270908&autostart=false&mute=true

Silas said “there is no timetable” for Harden’s return, and called his absence “a setback” for a Rockets team working to come together with a new coach and several new players in John Wall, Christian Wood and DeMarcus Cousins. Silas said he wasn’t sure whether Harden had even returned to Houston, where the rest of the team is taking part in training camp workouts.

“You want your best player to be here,” he said.

nba.com