Change welcomed
With training camp on the horizon, the goal is to ‘start … the way we ended’ last season — and to defeat the Warriors
Rockets general manager Daryl Morey did not join the beach photo in the Bahamas, but he was there, checking out one of the final steps in the offseason retooling of the Rockets. • With training camp opening next week in another exotic locale — Lake Charles, La. — Morey sat down for an extended question-and-answer session covering everything from the widespread changes to his best team with the Rockets to his expectations for this season.
Q. The previous time you had a team in the Western Conference finals, you kept the rotation together, but that did not work out so well. This time, you kept a couple rotation free agents and lost a couple. Putting aside the changes themselves for a moment, is some degree of retooling helpful or dangerous? Are you worried or encouraged by it?
A. I’m encouraged. I do think some change is healthy. Even if you look at the best teams in history, it’s rare that they brought the team back, and that’s understandable. Most of these teams like ours — what happens is you lose players in free agency and you have to find new players or develop new players to fill that role. We feel some amount of change is healthy. All of our top few core players are back. We’re excited about that.
We had an internal, all (basketball operations) meeting (Thursday), and throughout Mike (D’Antoni) was getting updates on a run and how good our acquisitions were playing — James Ennis for example.
Q. On the changes themselves, can a team without Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute be as strong defensively as last season’s team?
A. We can be. They were both extremely good defenders, so it will be a challenge. That was a big part of our meeting. Coach (Roy) Rogers was walking through what changes and how excited he was with what he was planning to do and the personnel we have to be better than last year.
Q. Is James Ennis a key to that?
A. For sure he is. We’re going to need some of the new acquisitions to step up, whether that be Michael Carter-Williams, Carmelo Anthony or James Ennis or Marquese Chriss or Brandon Knight. We’re going to need a few of those guys to step up. Our coaches feel strongly they will.
Q. There is an impression that Carmelo Anthony’s taking some of Ariza’s minutes diminishes the defense. But is Anthony in this system exclusively or nearly entirely a four?
A. That’s up to coach D’Antoni. Carmelo has been successful at either position. I think it’s maybe natural to view him as a four, given his skill set and how the league’s getting smaller in general. But I wouldn’t prescribe or proscribe either. Coach is going to look at it and go with what’s best.
Q. How does Anthony fit offensively?
A. That, I think, is easy. Two things are happening. Shooting has become more important and he’s always been a plus shooter. With all the switching that happens, people that can score one-on-one in isolation are very important, and Carmelo has been one of the best in the league at that. We feel like we have three of the best one-on-one, isolation scorers in the league in Chris (Paul), James (Harden) and Carmelo, which is an asset not many teams have.
Q. With Chris Paul last season and Carmelo Anthony this season, does that mean you guys are embracing mid-range shooting? Do I need to check your ID?
A. We go towards talent. The reality is Chris, especially, is maybe top three ever shooting a shot from anywhere on the floor. Anywhere outside of three feet, Chris Paul has been elite at shooting. Carmelo has been elite at being a one-onone scorer, and a lot of that is being able to score in those situations, so we’ll take talent wherever we get it. I understand that fit-wise there are question marks, but there were question marks about Chris, and Mike makes it work.”
Q. In addition to Anthony and Ennis, you made a ton of other changes. Michael Carter-Williams. Marquese Chriss. Brandon Knight. Bruno Caboclo. Isaiah Hartenstein. That could be nearly half the roster. How do you feel about so much turnover?
A. What matters more is turnover in minutes — your main minutes. I think we’d be bottom third in that, obviously Trevor being the biggest minutes we need to replace.
Q. There was also a staff change with Jeff Bzdelik’s retirement. That’s bad news for the trout of Colorado, but how will that impact your coaching staff ?
A. I think it’s similar to the players’ side. We have a very good stable of young coaches we brought along and developed. We’re going to need them to step up. Roy is super experienced. He was a key person on the Celtics staff when they were a top defense in the league. We feel he’s more than capable and some of the young guys that are going to backfill a lot of the role are more than capable. We’re excited. We’re excited about Matt Brase coming up from the minor leagues. There’s a reason we develop coaches in the minor leagues. That’s for these kinds of moments.
Q. Seems odd to have gotten this far without asking about James Harden or Chris Paul. As much was made about how quickly they meshed last season, is there room to grow in a second season together?
A. I think we saw some things in the playoffs that showed they have another gear they can hit. They were great in the playoffs. Both Chris and James were able to score at the same level they were scoring, but we went from a good low-turnover team to historically good in the playoffs. It just shows they have another level they have they will continue to develop.
Q. Harden seems to add something to his game each season. The twohand reach to draw fouls. The threeshot foul he was drawing around screens. The step-back 3s.
A. The use of his right hand is one, too.
Q. Is that this year’s? Something in store for this season?
A. I don’t know. James is everywhere because of commitments and brings our coaching staff and the people he works with with him. Often, I don’t get to see what he’s worked on. The step-back 3 — he started just torturing our guys in practice and training camp. I’m excited to see it, but for sure, he’s worked on something.
Q. Any takeaways from the camp in the Bahamas?
A. Just that our chemistry isn’t going to skip a beat. Even with the new guys there, it was like they played together for years. It was just a lot of fun. Obviously, the Bahamas was nice. It was like we were getting a break in the middle of the season with everyone having fun together, eating dinners together, taking a picture on the beach together. Coach D’Antoni and James and Chris set such an easy, cultural vibe that really came through.
Q. Speaking of training camps, why are you heading to Lake Charles this season? And any particular goals for this camp beyond the usual?
A. We usually go to different spots. Why we are in Lake Charles might be pretty obvious. We have a great facility there with the Golden Nugget Lake Charles (owned by Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta.) McNeese State has been really cool about letting us use their facility.
Goals for training camp are to start the season the way we ended, playing at the highest level we played. Beating Utah and Minnesota, 4-1, both of those teams are good teams and no joke. Beating them 4-1, and getting arguably the best team ever and being up 3-2 on them and an injury (Chris Paul’s strained hamstring) away, so we want to pick up where we left off.
Q. You mentioned an obsession with beating the Warriors last season? They remain the team to beat. How much do your roster decisions or Mike D’Antoni’s rotation decisions consider a potential matchup with the Warriors as opposed to decisions that might be made in general?
A. I’d say a lot, a very high percentage. A lot of those decisions work against every team. Same as last year, it’s very likely to win the title we’re going to have to beat the Warriors at some point. We’re doing what we can to prepare for them. To me, that’s what any rational person would do. I’m intrigued by some thinking it’s odd that we say that. Maybe because it’s not a norm. Ask any fan, ‘Who do you have to beat to win the title?’ They’re going to say ‘the Warriors.’ It seems like GM speak or coach speak to not say that.
Q. Last season, you didn’t win a championship but generally thought of it as a successful season. Most wins in franchise history. Best record in the NBA. MVP. This season, for you to feel it’s a successful season, does it have to end with you holding the trophy?
A. Yeah. To me, it’s similar to our players, from one to 15, from the front office staff to the coaching staff — we have done everything but win the title. That’s what’s left.