Rockets Report: Donatas Motiejunas Close To A Return

The Houston Rockets continue to underachieve as the season progresses.

They’ve tried all kind of things, they’ve switched lineups, they’ve fired Kevin McHale and they even went as far as to bring in a Navy SEAL to talk to these guys to motivate them play hard on both ends of the floor.

But to no avail.

Friday night’s 116-114 win over the Philadelphia 76ers was one of the most unimpressive I’ve seen thus far this season.

The 76ers are a horrible team but you would think with all of the weapons the Rockets have, it wouldn’t have been as difficult for them to put them away.

Again and again, time after time the Rockets were gift-wrapping the 76ers their first win in 26 games which is their current losing streak going into last season.

The lack of tenacious defense, the inability to hit key free throws down the stretch and just plain passiveness about the seriousness of defeating this team made that game cringing to watch.

But you know what?

I didn’t cheer the Rockets on when they were able to eke out the “W” but I had a sense of relief that they were able to do it.

I had to shake my head having the feeling that it was a damn shame that this team allowed the Sixers to have them go to the distance.

The game should’ve been put away when they were up by as much as 11 points down the stretch.

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But that’s water under the bridge because we got the win.

With that being said, here’s some more delightful news.

Donatas Motiejunas is edging even closer to a return and it’s getting serious this time.

The Houston Chronicle’s Jenny Dial Creech reports that his return is imminent according to Bickerstaff.

Here’s what Bickerstaff had to say:

"“D-Mo is back working,” Bickerstaff said. “We see him. He was doing some 1-on-1 stuff and just watching those little hooks drop in, I am just over here salivating waiting for him to come back in the game.”"

Creech does caution that a timetable still hasn’t been set.

Motiejunas hasn’t appeared in a game this season after having back surgery late last season.

With Motiejunas back in the fold, his ability to play stellar defense, score at will inside and out and to be the versatile “Stretch Four” that he’s become will pay huge dividends for the Rockets.

But it won’t be immediate — he has still got to get into game shape as his minutes will be limited out of the gate.

But once he hits his stride, he’ll certainly add more prestige to the Rockets lineup and it will help in the team’s win column as well.

Motiejunas, 25, averaged 12.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 28.7 minutes per game while shooting 50.4 percent from the field and 36.8 percent from the three-point line in 71 games (62 starts) which were all career highs but was cut short with his injury.

If you need additional updates on Motiejunas, feel free to follow his Twitter timeline (@DonatasMot), he posts regularly about his progress and it certainly keep your hope up as a Rockets’ fan.

I hope your return is soon D-Mo, we need you out there.

Go Rockets.

Next: This Rockets Season Is A Wash

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