Mike D'Antoni Articles - Page 6

Houston Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni says he would “definitely” consider playing Ryan Anderson as a backup center this season. D’Antoni says Tyson Chandler’s availability, how opposing teams guard the Rockets and other things will dictate if he uses Anderson at center. D'Antoni says Tyson Chandler's availability, how opposing teams guard Houston, and other things […]

Prior to this week, the Houston Rockets were expecting to be greeted back from their trip to Japan with questions related to training camp and preseason. While there was still plenty of basketball questions hurled their way, mixed in were inquiries about Houston’s latest controversy involving general manager Daryl Morey and China. It’s been a […]

Houston Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni will stagger Russell Westbrook and James Harden this season. He will also try to have two of Harden, Westbrook and Eric Gordon on the floor at all times. Both Harden and Westbrook are ball-dominant players. The two MVPs will obviously start and finish games together, but D’Antoni plans to […]

In his first game with the Houston Rockets, Russell Westbrook was his usual productive self. The former MVP finished with 13 points, two rebounds and six assists in 21 minutes against the Toronto Raptors while shooting 4-of-10 from the field and 1-of-6 from beyond the arc. Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni liked what he saw […]

Houston Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni thinks the Toronto Raptors will remain title contenders despite the departure of star small forward Kawhi Leonard. D’Antoni says the obvious, pointing out that it will be harder for the Raptors to win this season now that Leonard is gone. However, the Rockets coach thinks Toronto has the right […]

Mike D’Antoni became the first NBA coach to ever make a coach’s challenge during Thursday’s 109-96 preseason victory over the LA Clippers in Honolulu. Clippers head coach Doc Rivers was in disbelief as D’Antoni visibly twirled his right index finger and challenged an offensive foul called on his star player James Harden with 2:02 remaining […]

Mike D’Antoni says superstar guard Russell Westbrook will sit out the Houston Rockets’ preseason game against the Los Angeles Clippers in Hawaii, but will play at least one of their two games against the Toronto Raptors in Japan. After the Oklahoma City Thunder’s season ended in the first round of the playoffs, Westbrook had surgery […]

Houston Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni has certainly learned some valuable lessons from last season’s slow start. This 2019-20, he wants his team to have a sense of urgency from the beginning of the season. To recall, the Rockets started off with an 11-14 record in the 2018-19 season, an unacceptable start given that they […]

Mike D’Antoni has already put some thought into how to make the most of the Houston Rockets’ star pairing of James Harden and Russell Westbrook. The veteran head coach already made it known he plans to utilize his best players’ strengths and plans to keep either Westbrook or Harden on the floor at all times. […]

For the better part of the 2018-19 season, many fans and pundits maligned James Harden for his patented step-back jumper. In the eyes of many, this was a travel and not being legislated properly by the NBA. However, the league informed head coaches across the league this summer that Harden’s jumper was perfectly legal, according […]

Houston Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni provided an update with regards to Russell Westbrook’s status during Monday morning’s media availability. Westbrook, who was traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Rockets this offseason, is still recovering from an offseason knee procedure. D’Antoni says Russ is healthy, but the team is taking a cautious approach […]

Houston Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni expects center Clint Capela to be ‘great’ in the upcoming 2019-20 season. D’Antoni, who’s coming back for his fourth year as Rockets head coach, noted that Capela has always brought his game up a notch every year. The veteran tactician also pointed out how Capela’s FIBA World Cup experience […]

The NBA recently announced a new emphasis on calling traveling violations in the 2019-20 season and beyond, and the natural reaction was to assume these changes were made with Houston Rockets star James Harden in mind. Harden’s patented step-back has come under intense scrutiny, with many complaining that he often gets away with traveling while […]

The Houston Rockets are coming off a disappointing season that saw them fall, once again, to the Golden State Warriors in the 2019 Western Conference Playoffs following their heartbreaking, classic Western Conference Finals series in 2018, which went to 7 games. In response, proactive General Manager Daryl Morey sprung into action and landed superstar Russell […]

Houston Rockets star James Harden was ecstatic about the chance to play with longtime friend Russell Westbrook and confident in Mike D’Antoni’s leadership as a head coach to lead them. “I’m very excited…. tomorrow (when training camp starts) is the beginning and journey to something great,” said Harden, according to Alykhan Bijani of The Athletic. […]

James Harden and Russell Westbrook have been reunited in Houston. At this point, it’s not clear how well the two stars will perform together, but Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni says he is planning to have one of them on the floor at all times in the coming season: #Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni on Russ […]

As part of Friday’s media day, Houston Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni noted that he isn’t planning on changing Russell Westbrook’s play style in the coming season: “We need Russell to be Russell,” D’Antoni said, per ESPN’s Tim McMahon. You don’t want to change him. He’s an MVP.” Westbrook, now 30 years of age, was […]

Over the last week, extension talks between Houston Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni and the organization have come to screeching halt. D’Antoni was rumored to be looking for a long-term contract with the West Coast powerhouse, but the Rockets seemed hesitant to make such an offer. Owner Tilman Fertitta is furious that the contract negotiations […]

The Houston Rockets are coming off a 2018-19 NBA campaign in which they won 53 games and made it to the second round of the playoffs, where they were ultimately bounced by the Golden State Warriors. The Rockets losing to the Warriors in the playoffs? We’ve never heard that one before. But after losing to […]

The reported back-and-forth between Houston Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni and owner Tilman Fertitta over contractual matters heading into the last year of his deal left a sour taste for those fond of the longtime coach, as his record in Clutch City is terrific. Fertitta, who reportedly initially offered D’Antoni an incentive-based “prove-it” extension, is […]

The window of opportunity the Houston Rockets have long waited for is finally bound to open up during this 2019-20 NBA season, as the era of dynamic duos has officially replaced the superteam craze of the past three seasons. The perennial playoff staple will have to manage a wave of storylines that will determine its […]

Houston Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni does not expect his lack of a long-term contract extension to be a distraction for the Rockets in the 2019-20 season. D’Antoni is entering the final year of his contract in 2019-20. Houston and D’Antoni tried to get a contract extension done over the summer, but it never worked […]

Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta expects head coach Mike D’Antoni to be in Houston “for a long time.” D’Antoni is entering the final year of his contract in 2019-20. Via Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports: Mike D’Antoni returns in his fourth season as the Rockets’ coach. He’s stepping into the final year of his contract […]

The Houston Rockets are coming off of a 2018-19 NBA campaign in which they won 53 games and made it to the second round of the playoffs before losing to—surprise, surprise—the Golden State Warriors. Well, this offseason, the Rockets decided to end the James Harden-Chris Paul experiment and try an stranger one, trading Paul to […]

Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey believes superstar point guard Russell Westbrook is going to flourish in head coach Mike D’Antoni’s system. Morey says D’Antoni is great at adjusting his system for a player instead of asking the player to change his game. The Rockets’ architect also mentioned how Westbrook said at his introductory press […]

With the Houston Rockets introducing new point guard Russell Westbrook to the press on Friday, the eight-time All-Star opened up and told assembled media members he has a “great” relationship with his new head coach Mike D’Antoni, per ESPN 97.5 Houston’s Salman Ali. Westbrook talked to D'Antoni before the press conference today. Talked about how […]

Houston Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni first made a name for himself in the coaching ranks of the NBA as the head honcho for the Phoenix Suns back in the early 2000’s. This was one of the best eras of Suns basketball since the days of the great Charles Barkley, with the team led by […]

Mike D’Antoni is “really happy” the Houston Rockets didn’t trade Eric Gordon, PJ Tucker or Clint Capela this summer. Gordon, Tucker and Capela were all mentioned in trade rumors, especially when the Rockets were trying to acquire Jimmy Butler. Houston got the best of both worlds this offseason. They were able to acquire former MVP […]

Head coach Mike D’Antoni says the Houston Rockets need Russell Westbrook’s rebounding skills and athleticism. Westbrook is one of the most explosive point guards in NBA history, and he has averaged a triple-double three seasons in a row now. Mike D’Antoni is looking forward to the former MVP helping out the Rockets on the glass. […]

Houston Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni believes center Clint Capela got too much backlash after “one bad series” in the 2019 playoffs against the Golden State Warriors. Capela averaged 8.8 points and 10.0 rebounds in the six-game series versus the Warriors. He shot 53.5 percent from the field, but had a negative plus/minus in four out […]

Houston Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni believes Rockets fans “will appreciate the intensity” Russell Westbrook plays with on a nightly basis. Westbrook is arguably the most passionate player in the NBA. He leaves it all on the floor every night. Mike D'Antoni on Russell Westbrook: "What you see is what you get. You get a […]

Houston Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni admits he would be “disappointed” if Russell Westbrook’s 3-point shooting didn’t improve in Houston next season. Westbrook shot a putrid 29.0 percent from beyond the arc in 2018-19 with the Oklahoma City Thunder and is a career 30.8 percent shooter from deep. D’Antoni thinks the former MVP can get […]

Houston Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni is excited to coach veteran center Tyson Chandler again. D’Antoni was a strong advocate to bring Chandler to Houston. D’Antoni coached Chandler with the New York Knicks. The big man will back up Clint Capela on the Rockets. Mike D'Antoni on the addition of Tyson Chandler: "He's just a […]

Houston Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni is not currently considering an extension with the team, according to his longtime agent Warren LeGarie. LeGarie went on SiriusXM NBA Radio, detailing his client’s priorities heading into the final year of his contract. Via Salman Ali of ESPN 975 Radio: “It’s not even something we’re even considering right […]

Houston Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni gave a lot of credit to general manager Daryl Morey for making another huge move this summer. In the hopes of improving their title chances, the Rockets traded for Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook. The move reunited Westbrook with Houston superstar and former OKC teammate James Harden. D’Antoni […]

Houston Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni doubles down on his belief that they are the favorites to win the Western Conference after acquiring Russell Westbrook this summer. D’Antoni believes the Rockets have earned the rights to be considered as favorites. Despite the setbacks in the past two seasons, the veteran head coach sounded more confident […]

When the Oklahoma City Thunder sent Russell Westbrook to the Houston Rockets, Houston immediately became home to two of the most ball-dominant players in the league. Fans immediately questioned whether Westbrook could fit in with fellow former MVP James Harden with only one basketball on the court. Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni attempted to assuage […]

Even after a major roster change, Houston Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni claims that he will not be changing the team’s strategy much this offseason. In fact, he claims critics of the team’s system are full of it: “We’re not changing much,” D’Antoni said on the “The Woj Pod” while discussing the addition of Westbrook. […]

Houston Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni was a strong advocate to bring veteran center Tyson Chandler to Houston, according to Tim MacMahon of ESPN. D’Antoni coached Chandler with the New York Knicks. Chandler will back up Clint Capela on the Rockets. Mike D’Antoni coached Tyson Chandler with the Knicks and was a strong advocate for […]