Rockets' Gerald Green back for reunion with old Heat mates

After having to wait until Dec. 28 to start his season, Rockets guard Gerald Green's patience was tested again with a two-game suspension for entering the Clippers locker room, returning in time Monday to face the Miami Heat, one of his more recent former teams.

"Just keep doing what I've been doing," Green said. "My team supports me. I went out there, I was still able to get into the gym and do my work. I'm just glad to be back."

Green said he did "not want to talk about" the NBA ruling, giving him and Trevor Ariza a two-game suspensions, but did blame the media coverage for the NBA reaction.

"The media blew that up," Green said. "That's all I have to say. If it weren't for the media being there, I would never have got suspended."

Green spent the 2015-16 season with the Miami Heat, the Rockets' opponent Monday in Toyota Center, averaging 8.9 points in 22.6 minutes per game. Goran Dragic, Hassan Whiteside, Justise Winslow. Tyler Johnson, Josh Richardson and Udonis Haslem remain from that team.

"They still have kind of the same team," Green said. "They are a good team. Well-coached. They have players buying into the system. Once you have that combination, any team can be dangerous. Obviously, they don't have any All-Stars. They all play together. They do a good job communicating on defense with Hassan back there and do a good job pushing the pace with Goran Dragic. James Johnson has been very good playing point forward.

"It is a really good organization. I loved being in Miami. We had a really good team with D-Wade (Dwyane Wade), Chris Bosh, Hassan. Overall, it was a good time while I was there."

Green has played in 10 games, averaging 15.6 points in 26.7 minutes per game. Watching the wins against the Timberwolves and Warriors was difficult, but at least he got to see a pair of solid wins.

"It's always tough, man, but watching those guys get better, it was two big games for us, it was fun to watch," Green said. "This is what we've been working on, executing. I'm glad the way our guys responded.

"It was good. It's what we've been working on. We know that's the team we got to beat. We still have to get better. Obviously, this is a championship team. One game doesn't clarify anything. But it was good to notice what we're doing is working. We have to keep this train rolling. You win it, you move on."