CULTURE CHANGE

Here's what the Rockets full coaching staff could look like

Here's what the Rockets full coaching staff could look like
The Rockets are shaking things up. Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

As of Wednesday, the Houston Rockets have decided to hire Stephen Silas as their head coach. Silas, who was an assistant coach on a variety teams for 20 years, including his recent team, the Dallas Mavericks, has overpaid his dues and is now ready to become a head coach. As ESPN reported, Silas was the architect of the Mavericks' record-breaking offense last season.

Silas' NBA resume is commendable because all his ventures as an assistant coach. At the age of 27, he became an assistant coach underneath his father, Paul Silas, which was on the Charlotte Hornets and Cleveland Cavilers for five years. With the Hornets, he was 48-34 in the 2015-2016 season, as he served as assistant and head coach on certain occasions.

While with the Mavericks, Silas was able to connect with ROY and All-Star, Luka Doncic, which made their offense dangerous. Silas played a big part in the Mavericks almost beating the Los Angeles Clippers in Orlando during the playoffs. Even though the Mavericks finished 12th in offensive scoring, they were still able to take down NBA juggernauts. Before Silas showed up in Dallas, the Mavericks were 22nd in scoring, which was the 2018-2019 season. Hopefully, Silas can help James Harden and Russell Westbrook become more successful in their new offense.

As the coaching news continues to come in, the Rockets could also be adding Nate McMillan and Jeff Hornacek. Even though McMillan and Hornacek were both fired as head coaches, they will possibly be successful as assistant coaches on the Rockets. McMillan and Hornacek could help guide Silas because of their NBA experience as head coaches. Another thing that was reported by Kelly Iko of the Athletic is that former Rockets PG, Rafer Alston, wants to join the coaching staff too.

With all the coaching experience coming to Houston, the Rockets could push the odds for an NBA Championship.

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Astros defeat Yankees, 4-3. Photo by Christopher Pasatieri/Getty Images.

Yordan Alvarez and Jon Singleton each hit long homers in the first inning for the Houston Astros, who beat the New York Yankees 4-3 on Thursday night to avoid being swept in the season series.

Alvarez hit a two-out solo shot off Marcus Stroman (2-2) into the second deck in right field measured at 116.8 mph. Two batters later, Singleton hit a two-run homer off the facade along the third deck clocked at 115.4 mph.

The Astros are the first team in the Statcast era (2015-present) to hit two homers measured at 115 mph off the bat in the same inning. The homers were the hardest-hit balls against the Yankees this season.

Jeremy Peña had two hits, including a fifth-inning RBI single, for the Astros, who were outscored 40-18 in the first six games this season — all losses — against the Yankees, whom they beat in the AL Championship Series in 2017, 2019 and 2022.

Houston has never gone winless against an opponent in a season series lasting longer than six games.

Anthony Volpe hit a two-run homer off Ronel Blanco (4-0) in the third, while Aaron Judge went deep off Ryan Pressly in the eighth for the Yankees before Josh Hader got the final four outs for his fourth save. It was the first time Hader recorded more than three outs in a save since Aug. 14, 2020.

Blanco allowed four hits and walked four with five strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. He threw a career-high 107 pitches — including 14 against Anthony Rizzo during a fourth-inning at-bat during which the Yankees first baseman fouled off 10 straight pitches before whiffing on an 86 mph changeup.

Stroman gave up four runs and a season-high nine hits over 5 1/3 innings.

MINOR MOVE

The Yankees claimed RHP Colby White off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays and assigned him to Double-A Somerset. White, 25, has a 2.83 ERA in four minor league seasons, but was 0-2 with a 17.61 ERA in nine games at Triple-A Durham before being designated for assignment last Friday. He was selected by the Rays in the sixth round of the 2019 draft.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Astros: RHP Jose Urquidy (right forearm) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Sunday with Triple-A Sugar Lake. Manager Joe Espada said Urquidy will throw 60-65 pitches. … RHP Cristian Javier (neck) will come off the injured list to start against the Detroit Tigers on Saturday.

Yankees: IF DJ LeMahieu (right foot) will continue ramping up this weekend, when he accompanies the team to Tampa Bay for a three-game series against the Rays. … OF Jasson Dominguez (Tommy John surgery) is expected to begin a rehab assignment within the next two weeks.

UP NEXT

Astros: Continue a six-game road trip Friday night, when LHP Framber Valdez (1-1, 3.97 ERA) starts against the Tigers and RHP Casey Mize (1-1, 3.98 ERA). Valdez has given up seven runs in 10 1/3 innings in his first two starts since missing three-plus weeks due to a sore left elbow.

Yankees: Begin a six-game road trip Friday night, when RHP Clarke Schmidt (3-1, 3.50 ERA) takes the mound against Rays RHP Taj Bradley, who's making his season debut. Schmidt has allowed three runs or fewer in 32 starts dating the beginning of 2023, the second most in the majors behind Sonny Gray (33).

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