HoopsHype.com Rumors

Ken Berger: As @Adrian Wojnarowski reports, Sampson a serious candidate. Though his departure would hurt Rockets, sources say team would not stand in his way. Twitter @KBergCBS

Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, Kelvin Sampson 

“I thought Kelvin [Sampson] did a tremendous job, I really did,” McHale said. “I left after the Memphis game. We went there and got beat up pretty good by Memphis. We had a two-point game for a while, but they exposed some stuff and I had talked to Kelvin and the coaching staff about trying to do some other things. I thought they did a great job implementing that. NBA.com

Houston Rockets, Coaching, Kevin McHale, Kelvin Sampson 

Kelvin Sampson didn't hesitate when asked if Tuesday night was Jeremy Lin's best so far as a Houston Rocket. "No question. Without a doubt," Sampson said. "Best game he's played. Swagger... I thought he got his swagger back against New York. "He came back yesterday (Monday) and got a lot of shots up. He's been working hard with his shooting. You work at something, you're probably going to get better at it. But his confidence, his mojo, swagger, whatever you want to call it, he looks more comfortable on the court." CSN Houston

Houston Rockets, Jeremy Lin, Kelvin Sampson 

Fran Blinebury: Rockets coach Kelvin Sampson on Omer Asik's offense: "I saw flashes of no offense when he came in. Actually, his offense was offensive." Twitter @franblinebury

Houston Rockets, Omer Asik, Kelvin Sampson 

Delfino said he did about 70 percent of Monday’s practice. The Rockets do not have another full practice scheduled until Friday. Delfino had a sports hernia last season and surgery in the off-season, leading the Rockets to be especially cautious with his injury. “He’s close,” acting head coach Kelvin Sampson said. “He still has some pain, but I was encouraged today. I think it’s 50/50.” Houston Chronicle

Houston Rockets, Kelvin Sampson 

The Rockets made plans to wear a green band on the shoulder of their uniforms to memorialize Sasha McHale, the daughter of Rockets coach Kevin McHale who passed on Saturday. Green was Sasha McHale’s favorite color. There will be a moment of silence before the team is introduced before Tuesday’s game against Toronto at Toyota Center. A memorial service will be held Wednesday morning in the Minneapolis area. “I talked at length with Kevin today, kind of a father-to-father talk,” Rockets acting head coach Kelvin Sampson said. “He’s doing funeral arrangements for his daughter. Tough time. Tough time for he and Lynn and the family. But you know Kevin is a stud. “He’s very emotional. That’s his baby girl. Nothing else needs to be said.” Houston Chronicle

Houston Rockets, Coaching, Kevin McHale, Kelvin Sampson 

McHale’s youngest daughter Sasha had died on Saturday in Minneapolis. She had been hospitalized with a condition related to her long battle with Lupus, an auto immune disease. She was 23 years old. “Sasha was a daddy’s girl,” said Kelvin Sampson, who has been Rockets acting head coach since McHale took a leave of absence Nov. 10 to be with her and his family. “I remember last year during the lockout when we were meeting, she got sick. She was on a study abroad and had to come back. He just talked about her all the time. It’s just tough. It’s terrible. Terrible, terrible, terrible.” Houston Chronicle

Houston Rockets, Kevin McHale, Kelvin Sampson 

Tom Ziller: Heartbreakingly, Kelvin Sampson told a reporter four days ago that Sasha McHale's situation looked to be improving. Twitter @teamziller

Houston Rockets, Kevin McHale, Kelvin Sampson 

He was wide open for a 3-point shot at the end of overtime that could have taken down the Heat a few nights earlier. “I was sitting in my office after the game by myself and knock came on my door,” Sampson said. “It was Jeremy. He walked into the office and said, ‘Coach, I want to apologize for missing that shot. I’ll make the next one.’ I gave him a fist bump and he walked out.“It didn’t surprise me. I know he’s a high-character kid and he cares.” NBA.com

Houston Rockets, Jeremy Lin, Kelvin Sampson 

On Tuesday evening, Jeremy Lin and Rockets acting head coach Kelvin Sampson joined the efforts of Kids’ Meals, a dedicated community partner of the Rockets organization, after concerning shortages prompted a collaboration between the Jeremy Lin Foundation and the Houston Rockets. Kids’ Meals Executive Director, Ruth Burrell, has seen the initial 1,200 families increase to 1,700 since her guidance in 2010. The program operates daily, year-round, Monday through Friday, delivering meals to homes of families with pre-school aged children, at no cost. “The Rockets had already given the Kids’ Meals team three big vans packed to the top with groceries, and the amount the organization provided was so much that they rented a U-Haul filling that up, too, but unfortunately, that only fed 1,200 families,” Burrell said. NBA.com

Houston Rockets, Jeremy Lin, Kelvin Sampson 

Sampson is serving as head coach through Kevin McHale’s leave of absence because of a family medical emergency. Though Sampson speaks with McHale several times a day, there is no timetable for his return. While the attention tonight will no doubt be on the other bench, where Mike D’Antoni is scheduled to make his debut as Lakers coach, the Rockets continue with more unusual circumstances, comparing filling in for McHale to a team playing without its star. Houston Chronicle

Houston Rockets, Coaching, Kevin McHale, Kelvin Sampson 

“He’s done a great job stepping up and being the head coach,” Rockets assistant J.B. Bickerstaff said. “One of the things he’s done is being very inclusive. … We’re heavily involved in the process. He’s been great in assuming the responsibilities, but also with the assistants. “For everybody, you’re trying to fill in a small piece of what we had with Mac. I think it falls on all the assistants to do that. Whatever is your focus, you have to up it. There are more decisions you have to make now, more you have to contribute because Mac is gone. I think everybody has to step up.” Houston Chronicle

Houston Rockets, Coaching, Kevin McHale, Kelvin Sampson 

The team announced earlier Saturday that McHale was taking an immediate leave of absence to deal with a family matter. Assistant coach Kelvin Sampson took over and said before the game he hoped the team would come together to win for McHale. USA Today

Houston Rockets, Coaching, Kevin McHale, Kelvin Sampson 

Jeremy Lin said it was a bit strange to play without McHale in charge of the team. "It was definitely different," Lin said. "He's our leader. He's our voice. But coach Sampson did a good job coming in, and we played hard. Obviously we can't wait for coach McHale to come back. Everybody around here loves him to death." USA Today

Houston Rockets, Coaching, Kevin McHale, Jeremy Lin, Kelvin Sampson 

Houston Rockets Head Coach Kevin McHale will be taking an immediate leave of absence from the team to attend to a personal family matter. Assistant Coach Kelvin Sampson will handle head coaching duties during McHale’s time away. No return date has been set for McHale at this time. NBA.com

Houston Rockets, Coaching, Kevin McHale, Kelvin Sampson 

Chris Haynes: Just FYI: Houston Rockets assistant Kelvin Sampson says #Blazers inquired about him in regards to HC gig but hasn't been asked to interview. Twitter

Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers, Coaching, Kelvin Sampson 

Charles F. Gardner: Sidney Moncrief to be hired as Bucks assistant to replace Kelvin Sampson, league source says. Twitter

Milwaukee Bucks, Coaching, Kelvin Sampson, Sidney Moncrief 

Kelvin Sampson doesn't know when it happened, and it doesn't matter, but sometime in the last three years, he changed. He was no longer a former college coach working in the NBA. He was far from a coach biding his time until he could get back to the college game. The players in his mind wore NBA colors, moved through NBA plays. After 25 years as a college head coach, he saw himself on NBA benches and practices. "I look at myself as an NBA guy," said Sampson, who will join the rest of the new Rockets staff in Houston this week for the first time since he was made Kevin McHale's lead assistant. "This is exciting. I was really fortunate. You just get a fire that burns inside you." Houston Chronicle

Houston Rockets, Coaching, Kevin McHale, Kelvin Sampson 

"When Kevin called, they talked about an associate head coach/lead assistant opportunity," Sampson said. "At the time I was involved with the Pistons' head job. I said, 'Let's continue talking.' I wasn't sure how serious I was or how serious they were. "It just evolved. Kevin and I must have visited for three or four hours. You could tell clearly there was a connection there." McHale asked briefly about the NCAA infractions but said they were not much of a concern or consideration. He had even less issue with hiring a coach who had been a candidate for his job. "I don't think like that," McHale said. "I just think the best people you surround yourself with, the better it's going to make you. I'm very confident in my basketball and where I'm at. I love to have people that are very confident and challenge me. "We had a good time. We talked about basketball and life in general and the NBA and a lot of different stuff. Houston Chronicle

Houston Rockets, Coaching, Kevin McHale, Kelvin Sampson 

Frank, an assistant with the Boston Celtics, separated his candidacy in his first meetings with management and ownership, distancing himself from contenders Mike Woodson and Kelvin Sampson, sources said. Yahoo! Sports

Detroit Pistons, Mike Woodson, Coaching, Lawrence Frank, Kelvin Sampson