HOUSTON – James Harden calls them Grandpas.
We have Jason Terry and Pablo Prigioni, the 37-year old point guards for the Houston Rockets, who are part of this calming influence for a team entering the second round of the postseason.
“Grandpas have done a great job all year,” a smiling Harden said. “Since we got Pablo and Jet here they’ve been in that treatment room. They’ve done a great job seriously of doing everything right, defensive schemes, knocking down shots, being vocal leaders, going out there and being ready every single night and it’s carried us every single night.”
Terry was acquired first in a trade with Sacramento back in September to provide the Rockets with a backup point guard who is a good 3-point shooter and one who brings a veteran presence of experience in big playoff games. Terry has been to the NBA Finals twice, winning a title with Dallas, and played in 98 playoff games.
Before the end of the postseason, Terry will become one of 20 active players to participate in over 100 career playoff games.
And the Rockets need Terry’s experience because his role changed toward the end of the regular season. Starting point guard Patrick Beverley was lost for the season after undergoing surgery to repair torn ligaments in his wrist. So the Rockets turned to Terry to become the starter because he fits well with Harden.
In the first round, Terry averaged 7.8 points and shot 46.7 percent from the field and 47.1 percent from 3-point range.
“I think it’s a respect factor,” Terry said of being called Grandpa. “One thing is you’re the oldest in the locker room and it is what it is. These guys are your grandkids, a lot of them are young. When I was drafted in the league, [rookie] Nick [Johnson] was born in ’92 and I was drafted in '99.”
Prigioni’s journey to gain valuable playoff experience is different. He was a two-time Olympian for Argentina and played in the Argentine and Spanish leagues, participating in numerous playoff games, including winning the Spanish national championship in 2007-08 and the Spanish Super Cup three consecutive seasons.
After spending two seasons with the New York Knicks, he was acquired by the Rockets in a trade deadline deal in exchange for Alexey Shved and a second-round pick.
Prigioni’s game is vastly different from Terry’s. While he does shoot from the outside, he’s more of a distributor and will look to establish the pick-and-roll before looking to score.
In the five-game series with the Mavs, Prigioni averaged 21.4 minutes while scoring 3.4 points per game, and coach Kevin McHale gave Prigioni quality minutes in the fourth quarter of the Game 5 clincher.
“They complement each other,” Harden said. “Jet handles it a little bit [and] he can knock down a shot a little bit. Pablo handles it a little bit more as a playmaker but he can knock the shot down as well. They complement each other and help each other a lot. They help us as well as seeing things as a point guard.”
The leadership skills of both players were used at halftime of Game 3 against the Mavericks. Houston trailed 72-65, and Terry and Prigioni spoke to the team. Dwight Howard was another speaker and when the game was over, the Rockets had won 130-128 to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the series.
“For us being the elder statesmen of the team, we’re like a calming effect,” Terry said. “The young guys are full of energy, they’ve vibrant, but us vets we're even-keel, win or lose we come in and kinda even it out.”
So what does Prigioni think of being called Grandpa?
“It was a nice joke, it was funny. I think Jason and I are trying to give our best and try to run with these young guys and give 100 percent and try to play smart and push and support our teammates. That’s why we’re on the team.”
