Rumors

Jorge Sierra: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander passed all these players in playoff scoring tonight: Tracy McGrady Mychal Thompson Anthony Edwards Archie Clark Jermaine O'Neal Paul Silas Bradley Beal Sean Elliott Cedric Maxwell Kevin Love Rolando Blackman He's No. 205 all-time now.

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Jorge Sierra: Al Horford passed fellow Celtic legend Paul Silas in playoff rebounds for No. 17 in NBA history. He's also tied with Jamal Murray and JJ Redick in three-pointers at No. 33.

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Ryan Blackburn: Was very interesting to hear from Malone about Taylor Jenkins. Called his firing “shocking and odd.” He harkened it back to a moment when his father, Brendan Malone, took over with 18 games to go for Paul Silas after his firing, Malone said his father “didn’t want that job”

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Marc Stein: Joining forces with @keerthikau to research historical precedents but a little more complicated in the NBA coaching space because databases aren’t as complete. Cleveland dismissed the great Paul Silas with 18 games to go in 2004-05. But nine games left is obviously even later.

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Speaking of your youth, you came into the league at 20 as the third overall pick in 1999. Was there a point where you thought you might go No. 1 or 2 overall in the draft? Baron Davis: I did. I talk to Steve Francis about this all the time. I thought I was going to go No. 2. I believe the trades happening at No. 2 weren’t going down. I was all up in my agent’s office all the way until the draft, so I kind of knew where everyone was going in the draft. Paul Silas, rest in peace. I remember eavesdropping on a call with Arn Tellem, and Paul was like, “Well, f*ck it. He can go overseas. I’m still going to draft him (laughs).” I was like, “I’m not going to be in Charlotte.” He was like, “That’s fine. I’m still drafting your a**. You don’t have to come if you don’t want to, but I’m drafting you. If you’re at No. 3, I’m taking you.” That was one of the best moves of my life. To be coached by Silas and have another father figure and role model. I never saw what that looked like as a father and a coach at that level. It was a blessing to go to the Hornets and live in Charlotte. One of my closest relationships is Senator Marshall Rauch. He turned 100. He was my financial guru. He sat me down and taught me about finances, partners, bonds, and everything you can imagine.

HoopsHype

Clutch Points: . @NBAalumni Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on player empowerment: "I'm glad the really able players get paid... Paul Silas, Oscar [Robertson], they didn't have the whole summer off. They were working with lawyers fighting for free agency. I don't think we show them enough appreciation." pic.twitter.com/93bP8PdxUF

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“I’m glad the really able players get paid,” Kareem Abdul-Jabbar said. “That’s good to see. Everything else, it’s up and down, but the players can get paid if they have anything to offer, they get paid. I’m happy for him for that reason. “You know I just remembered, and he just died, Paul Silas and Oscar [Robertson] and those guys, you know, they didn’t have like the whole summer off. They were working with the lawyers, you know, fighting for free agency. So, I don’t think we showed them enough appreciation.”

Clutch Points

Scott Agness: Pacers coach Rick Carlisle is not at practice today. He went to Charlotte to attend Paul Silas’ memorial service. He plans to join the team in Memphis for Sunday’s game.

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Rod Boone: #Hornets practiced earlier than usual today in advance of tomorrow's game against Miami because some of the staff is going to attend Paul Silas' public memorial service in South Charlotte. Steve Clifford on what today means to him and dealing with the loss of such a good man:

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Basketball is often used as an escape for NBA players and coaches from the trials of daily life. But Stephen Silas can’t think of basketball without thinking of his father, former NBA head coach and longtime forward Paul Silas. With the recent death of his father in mind, the Houston Rockets head coach was teary-eyed about an hour before a recent tipoff against the Sacramento Kings. “I miss him so much. I miss our conversations. Our daily conversations. I almost feel like, not that I’m falling, but I just don’t have my footing. And there’s a huge hole in my heart because he was just so great to me. I miss his laugh,” said Stephen Silas before the Rockets’ 135-115 loss to the Kings on Jan. 11.

Andscape

The third-year Rockets head coach is departing to Charlotte on Friday, missing Saturday’s game against the Detroit Pistons and will be back with the team Monday. “I’m looking forward to it because of seeing the people, celebrating his life, hearing the speakers,” Silas said. “It’s going to be great, but it’s going to be really hard at the same time. And being there for my mom is going to be very important and being strong for my mom is going to be important.”

Andscape

Who called you or sent a text message to you after your father passed that really meant a lot to you? Stephen Silas: [NBA commissioner] Adam Silver was one of the first people to reach out. [New York Knicks guard] Jalen Brunson, who I coached in Dallas, was one of the first people to reach out. [Philadelphia 76ers head coach] Doc Rivers has been checking on me on a weekly basis. Mash, I haven’t spoken to Jamal Mashburn in forever. Elden Campbell, I hadn’t spoken to him forever. It’s always the same story. Your dad was like my dad, or your dad was one of my favorite coaches.

Andscape

Kelly Iko: Is Silas truly on the hot seat? If we’re being honest, I didn’t think Silas would survive that brutal 2-12 start to the year. It looked and felt like the walls were caving in, and we’ve seen coaches get fired at the beginning of seasons for less. But he survived and Houston looked better over the next stretch, going 7-6 over the next 13 games. The question used the important phrase “in danger,” implying Silas could lose his job sooner rather than later. The sense I get is there’s no rush to cut ties with Silas at this juncture. He’s always been backed by management, from winning them over in the interview process to giving him full autonomy in constructing his supporting staff. There’s a lot of love for him in the building, especially following the unfortunate passing of his father, Paul Silas.

The Athletic

Jared Weiss: Celtics honor the late Paul Silas as his son Stephen takes the floor tonight to coach the Rockets. The team handed out Silas pins before the game.

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