Centers engaging in healthy competition
D’Antoni has problems to consider, but play of his big men is a positive
As the Rockets reached the point in the preseason when coaches begin to worry, with issues exposed and time running out to correct them, the Rockets’ Mike D’Antoni found another reason to toss and turn his way through the China trip jet lag.
But he can be happy with at least one “problem” keeping him awake.
Rockets starters struggled through travel fatigue for much of Saturday night against the Memphis Grizzlies, but D’Antoni’s centers showed why they remain locked in the one battle for playing time in their rotation.
Rockets reserves took the game into two overtimes before the Grizzlies pulled away 134-125, dropping the Rockets to 4-1 in the preseason.
With D’Antoni saying the Rockets were “running in mud,” the starters seemed jet-lagged, going 0-for-10 from the 3-point line, 9-of-27 overall.
The centers had no such difficulties.
There are other decisions to be made, particularly if guard Pat Beverley is not back for the start of the season. But D’Antoni indicated before the game his three centers — Nene, Clint Capela and Montrezl Harrell — are competing for their place in the rotation.
Saturday, each made a strong case for himself. But they will not often all play in regularseason games as they have in the preseason, leading to a tough decision.
“It depends on how Nene feels,” D’Antoni said. “There’ll be times when we need five minutes here 10 minutes there, foul trouble, Nene in back-to-backs can’t go. There’ll be plenty of runs.”
Nene has been outstanding, but the Rockets went into the preseason seeming to want him to come off the bench to help limit his minutes. He started, scoring 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting. Capela assertive
Capela, who had been expected to move into the starting role, had missed Wednesday’s game with a tight hamstring and had been inconsistent through the preseason. But he had his most active, effective stretch of the preseason off the bench Saturday.
“I thought this was Clint Capela’s best game,” D’Antoni said. “Just his activity, so that’s good. It looks like he’s healthy. That was very positive.”
Capela not only finished each of his four shots to score nine points in 12 minutes, he moved the ball smartly for three assists, adding nine rebounds in 12 minutes.
“Today, with the pick-and-roll with James (Harden), everything was real easy,” Capela said. “I was getting the ball and if I was not able to score, was able to do the right pass, rebounding, running. So yeah, I felt more like myself.”
But Capela’s foul trouble opened the way for Harrell to get early minutes, with Harrell again making the most of them even before another strong fourth quarter with the benches cleared. Harrell had a team-high 20 points, making 8 of 14 shots with 10 rebounds and two blocked shots.
“I’m just really taking advantage of the opportunity that coach has given me,” Harrell said. “With the way that we play and run and get up and down the court, using my abilities as the four at the five is special.” Toss Harrell into mix
D’Antoni had gone into the preseason unsure whether Capela or Nene would start, saying that could depend on how each fits in the rotation with him. But he hoped to have his rotation largely set by the final two preseason games and now will also consider where Harrell might fit.
“There’s some competition there,” D’Antoni said. “Montrezl played well, so everybody is going to have to be ready.
“I think he’s a lot better than I originally thought, but we had him playing at the four. I think he’s better at the five. He will be somebody we can count on this year.”
The Rockets kept Nene to 19 minutes, offering a reminder of why depth at the position is so important.
They likely would not push their most experienced player too far in preseason games, anyway, but the part of the plan that has not changed is to limit Nene’s playing time.
“We have to watch him,” D’Antoni said. “We have to make sure Nene stays healthy because when he’s healthy, he’s really good.”
D’Antoni has not decided whether that will be to start games or off the bench, and Nene said he does not care.
The centers have not made the decisions easy, though even late at night, that can be considered a good thing.