Tag: Mike D’Antoni

Mike D’Antoni says he’s open to changing Rockets rotation in July

“Who those nine [players] are, they could change,” Mike D’Antoni told Kelly Iko. “Maybe early we experiment, practice, and watch.”

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When we last saw the Houston Rockets in March, head coach Mike D’Antoni regularly utilized a nine-man rotation.

The team’s starters were Russell Westbrook and James Harden in the backcourt, along with Danuel House Jr., Robert Covington, and P.J. Tucker in the frontcourt. Reserves were Eric Gordon, Austin Rivers, Ben McLemore, and newcomer Jeff Green, who backed up Tucker.

Upon the team’s expected return in July following the NBA’s extended COVID-19 hiatus, the number of players in the regular rotation is likely to remain the same. However, in a new interview with Kelly Iko of The Athletic, D’Antoni indicated that the names could change. He said:

With Daryl [Morey] and data, with how we think gives us the best chance to win, it probably comes down to nine guys. Now, who those nine are, they could change, and maybe early we experiment, practice, and watch. And obviously you’re also biased about their previous play.

So I go in with the notion of how I think it’s going to be. I can change my mind. I don’t want to watch practice or games and think ‘Wait a minute, this guy’s better than this other guy.’

That analysis is in line with recent comments from Morey, who explained why he believes that an extended training camp just before the playoffs is uniquely beneficial to the Rockets. The Houston GM said:

It’s one of the reasons why a stop and restart slightly favors us. … We have a very deep team. We have veterans who have not been with us all year who have contributed to very good playoff teams in the past. They probably didn’t get much of a chance to show what they could do. But with a new training camp and some games before the playoffs… it gives those guys a chance to show Coach D’Antoni what they can do.

Coach likes a tight rotation in the playoffs, which I do think the evidence does support his choice there in the playoffs. But in terms of who our eight, nine, or 10 guys are going to be in the playoffs, I do think it gives those guys a chance and it gives us some potential upside.

https://www.facebook.com/houstonrockets/videos/2736276753258833/

The Rockets (40-24) acquired veterans DeMarre Carroll, Jeff Green, and Bruno Caboclo just weeks before the season’s suspension on March 12, but Green was the only one of that frontcourt trio to immediately receive a spot in the team’s new small-ball rotation.

However, the “restart” might change that dynamic, since it resets the season and puts rosters on level footing for training camp. Carroll, for example, could challenge the likes of McLemore or House for more playing time. Or Caboclo could make a push for minutes at backup center.

Houston ranked No. 2 in the NBA in offensive rating before the hiatus but only No. 16 on defense, and Carroll would potentially upgrade their perimeter defense. The 6-foot-9 Caboclo, with his long 7-foot-7 wingspan and athleticism, could provide a shot-blocking presence.

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As D’Antoni mentioned, they could also “experiment” during eight regular-season games at the neutral site in Florida. In the daily grind of February and March, seeding was at a premium in the tightly packed Western Conference standings, and the Rockets were understandably hesitant to make significant changes to their rotation on the fly.

In July, beyond having a full training camp with the new players after an extended layoff for everyone, there’s also the reality that seeding probably isn’t as important anymore. That’s because higher seeds in the 2020 NBA playoffs won’t have their usual perk of home-court advantage.

None of that makes it a guarantee that D’Antoni will change his rotation, of course. But it does make it more likely that he and the Rockets will enter the upcoming training camp with an open mind.

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