West Notes: Rockets, Fred VanVleet, Mavericks, Ryan Nembhard, Spurs

Rockets

The feeling around the Rockets is starting to shift. And not in the way Fred VanVleet was hoping.

Per Varun Shankar of the Houston Chronicle, it’s looking increasingly unlikely the veteran guard returns for the playoff push. VanVleet has been out since September with a torn ACL and had recently expressed some optimism about getting back on the floor.

But coach Ime Udoka poured a little cold water on that idea.

VanVleet is doing on-court work. Shooting. Cutting. Moving. All non-contact. And at this stage, that matters.

If you’re not taking contact this late in the season, you’re probably not playing. That’s the reality.

Mavericks

Rookie guard Ryan Nembhard is starting to figure it out. Slowly. Steadily. The way it usually happens.

He he’s focused on getting up more catch-and-shoot threes, via Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal.

“I’ve been trying to get more catch-and-shoot threes off — that’s a big thing for me,” Nembhard said. “Just trying to space the floor, make guys close out, and respect my jump shot has been important.”

Spurs

The Spurs aren’t developing. They’re winning. A lot.

Second in the West tells you everything you need to know. And in the middle of that, Jordan McLaughlin has quietly carved out a role.

Not flashy. Not headline-grabbing. Just steady.

Coach Mitch Johnson praised the veteran guard after a recent win over the Clippers, calling his minutes steady and professional. It’s not always about how much. It’s about how well.

Johnson said the Spurs specifically wanted McLaughlin included in the deal with Sacramento that landed De’Aaron Fox. This wasn’t some extra piece tossed in. They targeted him.

They valued his experience from stops in Minnesota and Sacramento. They believed he could help stabilize things. And now he is. In a season about growth, that kind of presence goes a long way.