D’Antoni’s light approach shines on winning attitude
With 1:25 left in the game and the Minnesota Timberwolves leading by nine points, the winning streak was just about out of time and the Rockets were running out of patience.
Officials had gone to a video review and waited — and waited — for an answer from the NBA’s review center. The tension was thick. The decision, it seemed, would be crucial. But for an excruciatingly long wait, none came.
Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni made his way over to lead official Bill Spooner and said, “They must all be at a Christmas party in New Jersey drinking eggnog.”
Finally, the decision came. Timberwolves ball.
“And,” D’Antoni said, delivering the punch line, “there’s something in that eggnog.” Negating the negative
Beyond D’Antoni’s love of a good one-liner, there was a strategy behind his attitude.
“Everybody here in that room is self-motivated,” he said. “They put enough pressure on themselves; I don’t have to add to the worries. The more we defuse a situation, the better.”
To D’Antoni, among his most important jobs is creating the right attitude for players to excel. That is why he does not secondguess shot selection during a game, helping to key to the Rockets’ 3-for-all offense. But even beyond that most conspicuous part of his philosophy, he will not pull players for missing shots or making mistakes so they won’t play while looking over their shoulders.
“I believe that a lot,” he said. “I hate to take play- ers out after they make a mistake or are playing bad and let them think about it for a couple days. It doesn’t do their psyche any good. I like to take them out on a high note if possible. I like to stick to my guns. They may mess a game up. So what? We’ll get them the next game.
“You like your guys. You stick with them. If they’re not selfish and hustling and doing the right things, you know what, losing is not the worst thing in the world. We’ll go through that together.” ‘A sense of calm’
He will jump players for making mistakes. He called a timeout and ripped Sam Dekker for going under on a screen, giving up an open 3-pointer. After the timeout, however, Dekker remained on the floor.
“Don’t do what you’re not supposed to do or I’ll go crazy,” D’Antoni said. “But then, it’s over.”
He blasted players when the intensity was lacking against the Nets. But the Rockets said D’Antoni will not let them second-guess themselves during games.
“It brings a sense of calm to everybody on the team, whether things are going good or bad,” Dekker said. “Coach is always going to have that light-hearted way about him. He knows we’re going to make mistakes. He wants us to play through it. He gives you a lot of confidence to go out and play your game. I think that’s elevated all our play.”
Even Rockets veterans, whose confidence generally would not be shaken by a harsh in-game critique from the bench, said D’Antoni’s style has freed them to take shots that would lead many coaches to do more than cringe. They also believe it has made them better.
“Basketball is 80 percent a mental game, 20 percent a physical game,” forward Ryan Anderson said. “You can over-think basketball. I’ve had coaches who overanalyze every, single thing. Coach D’Antoni, he believes in the system and he believes in the players. It goes a long way if you give a player confidence.” Faith in his system
After the Rockets made 6-of-38 3-point shots on Tuesday, Anderson said D’Antoni “laughed it off.” The next day, they made 17-of-38. They said that their confidence is strong enough to handle an off game, but no team has ever shot so many 3s. Much of that confidence comes from D’Antoni’s faith in his system and his players. But as much as he believes in his offense, D’Antoni also believes he has to develop the same sort of conviction in his players.
“When we’re not doing what we need to do, he’ll jump on us for sure,” guard Eric Gordon said. “He never really jumps on an individual. He’s by far the most laid-back coach I’ve ever been around. To him, it’s all about having a good attitude and everyone being together.”
Rockets players have cited that perspective for their improved resilience. Last season, they crumbled under adversity, particularly in the first weeks of the season when they treated all deficits as insurmountable. This season, they rallied from 17 points down in the fourth quarter to beat the Timberwolves and from down 15 to within three before losing on Friday to the Grizzlies.
The Rockets have not lost consecutive games this season. As much as they cited the change in the mood since summer workouts, Rockets players have pointed to the influence of the coach when things have gone wrong.
“He’s a chill dude, man,” guard Pat Beverley said. “Even when we lost, he was so chill. ‘You guys, I can’t believe you guys.’ For your coach to have that kind of balance as a coach and as a man, it keeps everyone else at ease.
“We know we’re never out of the fight.” Keeping perspective
Some of that comes from D’Antoni’s determination to inspire the attitude he believes his team needs. Most, however, is from his own philosophy about life in the NBA. Greater adversity than a one-game losing streak surely will come. He insists he will handle it the same way.
“We’re using that football thing, ‘So what? What’s next?’ ” D’Antoni said. “We try to tell them, ‘when you’re inside the lines, it’s the most important thing in the world. When you’re outside, it’s basketball.’
“You have to keep it in perspective. These guys are privileged to play and we’re privileged to have this job. We’re going to fight as hard as we can and I worry about it, but I’m not going to let it kill me. I’m not doing that.”