Mike D’Antoni bullish on rare second training camp for Rockets

With a stylistic change to going small and several midseason acquisitions, Houston might benefit more than most teams from training camp.

With a midseason switch to a smaller lineup and related acquisitions such as Robert Covington, Jeff Green, DeMarre Carroll, and now Luc Mbah a Moute, the Houston Rockets have made more changes during the 2019-20 NBA season than most NBA teams.

That’s why they hope an unusual training camp late in the regular season — owing to the season’s multi-month stoppage due to COVID-19 — could benefit them more than their Western Conference rivals.

In Wednesday’s Zoom session from Toyota Center, where the Rockets are going through individual workouts until a July 9 departure for the Florida “bubble” site, head coach Mike D’Antoni said this to reporters:

No other team changed its philosophy and players at the All-Star break. We’re the only team that hasn’t had a preseason or training camp.

The hiatus is also allowing players with nagging injuries, such as reserve guard Eric Gordon, to finally get healthy. But that type of benefit would seemingly apply to most of the 22 NBA teams headed to Florida, which would reduce its competitive advantage for the Rockets.

On the other hand, the combination of a stylistic shift and several new acquisitions from February onward are fairly unique. Time will tell, but on paper, there’s a clear case for D’Antoni’s optimism.

“We have as good of chance to win this as anybody,” D’Antoni said. “At the end of the day, it’s going to come down to big players making big plays, and it’s always that way. We’ve got two of the best, if not more.”

Led by the All-Star backcourt of James Harden and Russell Westbrook, Houston resumes its regular season on July 31. The Rockets (40-24), who have already clinched a playoff spot, are tied for the West’s No. 5 spot and could finish anywhere between No. 2 and No. 7 in the final standings.

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