D’Antoni wants team to focus on reducing its turnovers

After a pair of inconsistent performances in preseason games, coach Mike D’Antoni said the Rockets’ priority against the Spurs on Sunday will be to do “the basics” they have let slide too often in games against the Grizzlies and Pacers. That could begin with reducing turnovers.

Of the 36 teams that have played preseason games this month, only the Sydney Kings have averaged more turnovers than the Rockets’ 24 per game.

“I don’t pay that much attention to it,” guard Chris Paul. “Obviously we have to cut down on them. We’re gearing up.”

The Rockets had 26 turnovers against the Pacers on Thursday, though D’Antoni said some of that was from the lack of consistent intensity in many parts of the game.

“That’s where we got in trouble last game, obviously,” D’Antoni said. “A little bit of that is just getting familiar with each other, getting a little bored because it’s preseason and not being on top of your game. Some of it will clear up itself when the season starts. Some of it is being comfortable with each other and knowing what we want to do.”

“Gearing up” has included some experimenting with passes to big men not as accustomed as

Clint Capela to grabbing James Harden’s fast balls, especially on pocket passes that few of the backup big man have seen.

“No, they haven’t, and I don’t know that you could catch some of them,” D’Antoni said. “It’s time for our main guys, they experiment, too, to see what works and doesn’t work, see what they can throw a big guy. Then they’ll get comfortable with a guy. But it is a big key for us, keeping our turnovers down. That’s when we made the jump last year even defensively. That’s huge. If you don’t have a lot of turnovers, that’s when you’re better defensively.”

The Rockets ranked third in the NBA defensively from February on when they averaged the ninth-fewest turnovers. They ranked 11th defensively prior to February when they ranked 15th in turnovers per game.

Paul has raves for Spurs’ Murray

Dejounte Murray’s rapid rise as a starting point guard with the Spurs might have come ahead of the schedule many saw and will be a key to the Spurs’ season. But Rockets guard Chris Paul saw signs of what Murray could be four years ago when they shared a backcourt in a pickup game.

“When Jamal Crawford got married a few years ago, Dejounte might have still been in high school,” Paul said. “The night before Jamal’s wedding we played a pickup game in Seattle. Dejounte was on my team. “

That was less of a preview than Paul gets with the many NBA point guards that have come through his camp, but it was enough to get an idea of what Murray could become.

“Really good, really good,” Paul said. “So athletic. Plays with a lot of confidence. Now, too, playing in San Antonio “Pop” (Spurs coach Gregg Popovich gave him the keys to the ship. He’s really going to be good now.”

D’Antoni balances minutes, caution

Guard James Harden added runs up the Toyota Center lower bowl followed by shooting drills after the Rockets’ practice and open practice Friday. But he said he considers extended playing time in preseason games the most important part of getting ready for the regular season.

“Obviously, conditioning off the court and weight training, things like that, are really good,” Harden said. “Basketball shape is a different kind of conditioning. I know most of the guys want to play most of the same amount of minutes they’re going to play in a real game. So it’s good. We only have five preseason games. You just try to take advantage of every one.”

Harden averaged 30.3 minutes per game in the first two games with Chris Paul averaging 27.1,

Carmelo Anthony and Eric Gordon 26.8 per game each. The Rockets expect to have most of their regulars available for the first time in the preseason Sunday. P.J. Tucker, who sat out the first two preseason games with a sore back, returned to practice Friday and is not on the injury report. Center

Clint Capela, who missed Thursday’s game with a sore right foot, practiced Saturday. He is listed as questionable. Centers Isaiah Hartenstein and Marquese Chriss are out with sprained left ankles.

Coach Mike D’Antoni said having playing time for the rotation players together in the preseason is valuable, but that there will be an emphasis on caution.

“It’s always important and we always want to do it,” D’Antoni said. “At the risk of them getting hurt, you can’t do it.”