Kevin McHale has tough job balancing wins and Dwight Howard's health

A basketball coach has to win games. That's his main priority.

But how does he win games when one of his best players can help only on certain nights because of health issues?

That's the dilemma facing Houston Rockets coach Kevin McHale just two weeks into this season. Center Dwight Howard is slowly being brought along by the training staff after lower-back stiffness returned following his second game of the season.

"How he's going to be out there depends on how he feels and how his wind is, legs and everything else," McHale said. "It's a bit of a balance."

The delicate balance will be tested this weekend when the Rockets visit Sacramento on Friday night on ESPN and then the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night.

How much Howard plays in both games, if he plays in both games, hasn't been determined. As late as Thursday, McHale wasn't sure. He just knew Howard was feeling better.

Should McHale play Howard against the Kings if DeMarcus Cousins is absent? What about taking on the Clippers and DeAndre Jordan?

Can Howard play both games?

"It's going to be the day after always with the chronic stuff," McHale said. "We haven't had a chance to do a lot of day-after stuff [how Howard feels and moves] yet. He didn't play much in the preseason."

Treading lightly

The lower-back stiffness occurred after the Rockets' first preseason game. The medical staff took a cautious approach with Howard, choosing to keep him out of practice and games until he felt better.

Howard's condition improved by the end of training camp, and he started practicing just before the last preseason game. But he didn't play.

And the Rockets have a killer schedule, with an NBA-leading 20 back-to-backs. In 2014-15, the Rockets had 21 back-to-backs. Howard won't participate in back-to-back games until he builds up more strength in his back and legs.

The weekend before Houston's win against Oklahoma City on Monday indeed raised a few eyebrows and illustrated just how serious the medical staff is with Howard. It underscored the lengths to which the training staff would go to protect the star center. At 0-2, would they risk another loss by keeping Howard out again?

Facing a back-to-back consisting of the Heat in Miami on Sunday and the Thunder at home on Monday, the training staff put Howard through a grueling workout on Saturday before leaving for Miami to test where Howard was.

Still struggling to round into game shape, Howard was drenched in sweat, huffing and puffing, clearly laboring. Afterward, Howard said he wasn't sure whether he was going to play in Miami.

And he didn't.

So McHale instead was forced to start guard Marcus Thornton, withClint Capelaplaying center, while Howard watched from the bench.

The Rockets lost the game and fell to 0-3. The next night, when Howard could play again, McHale wrung 35 minutes out of him, blowing past the prescribed minutes the training staff had recommended, and Houston beat Oklahoma City 110-105.

The Rockets needed a win. They needed Howard.

"This is my body"

Howard scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds against the Thunder. After the game, Howard was asked about playing in back-to-back games. His answer was more about his future than his present.

"I think the biggest thing is for myself, personally just continue to build and continue to get in shape and as the season goes then I'll be able to play those back-to-backs," he said. "Early in the season, I don't think it's smart to do that. People will say, 'Wow, you're young.' I've been in the league for 12 years, and I want to be able to walk when I'm done playing basketball. People can say that's selfish or not. But at the end of the day, this is my body."

When Howard does play he's a dominant figure. In Wednesday's overtime victory against the Orlando Magic, he scored 23 points, snagged 14 rebounds while going 10-for-10 from the field. McHale praised Howard's ability to help the defense from the back end, recognizing pick-and-roll plays, helping out when someone challenges the rim with a drive. He's the best defensive stopper on the Rockets, bar none.

Having Howard on the floor also allows McHale to keep his lineup big, so rebounding, blocking and altering shots come easier. With Howard on the bench in street clothes, McHale has to go small, forcing rookie Montrezl Harrell to play more minutes than he's ready for and sacrificing rebounding for a faster lineup.

Ultimately, however, Howard has to be comfortable. As he said, it's his body.

"If I don't take care of [my body] now, then I'll be in trouble when I get older," Howard said. Howard's comments echo Chicago's Derrick Rose, a terrific point guard whose career has been stymied by knee problems. This summer, Rose talked about protecting his body so he can walk normally when he retires. Warranted or not, Rose was pelted by a barrage of criticism from Bulls fans, a barrage from which some say he might not ever recover, at least in Chicago.

Likewise, Howard's heard some of that criticism, too. He understands fans' frustration. He wants to remain on the floor for as long as possible, too. As he restores his full health, presumably he'll restore faith. Until then, he'll continue to do whatever he can to help his team.

"Those nights when I can't play I will still be supportive, and I'm going to be out there pushing Clint [Capela], pushing those young guys to get better and at the end of the season we're going to grow from it," Howard said. "Clint will have the experience; I will be in better shape; my legs will be a lot stronger and we'll make a push to win a championship and that's all that matters.

"I want to give everything for my teammates when I'm on the floor," he added. "Give 100 percent. Do whatever I can."