D’Antoni gets starting 5 back

MILWAUKEE — With forward Ryan Anderson back with the Rockets after missing three of the previous four games with a stomach virus, coach Mike D’Antoni took the opportunity to get his preferred starting lineup back together for the first time since Clint Capela was hurt Dec. 17 in Minneapolis.

Capela had started in his first game back a week earlier in Miami, but he was brought off the bench in the three games that followed while working back into game shape. On Monday, D’Antoni said Capela was ready to reclaim his starting position.

“That’s the way we want to do it,” D’Antoni said. “Clint looked good the past few games. That was his role and that is what we want. It has nothing to do with Trez (Montrezl Harrell ) or Nene. All three are ready to go. We might switch them up and guys will play at different times. But our idea is that was Clint’s job and his job to lose.”

The Rockets went 15-2 when starting Capela, Anderson, Trevor Ariza, James Harden and Pat Beverley. They went 10-5 in the five weeks since.

Anderson struggled through nine minutes in the loss to the Golden State Warriors last week but said he was at full strength.

“I feel amazing,” Anderson said. … I’m so happy to feel like myself again. I have an appetite. About three days, I couldn’t put anything in my stomach and didn’t have an appetite. I feel great now.”

Capela has played an average of 14 minutes in his first four games back from the injury, averaging eight points and six rebounds. He said he struggled with his conditioning in his first game, but not since.

“In Miami, I started running and I felt it a little bit,” Capela said. “After that, it wasn’t that bad. “I’m starting to feel like myself again.”

D’Antoni: Team plays ‘our game’

In consecutive games, the Rockets faced teams with different rosters and defensive philosophies.

This changed the Rockets’ game plan in no way.

After playing the Grizzlies, who pack the lane and limit points in the paint as well as any team in the NBA, the Rockets went against the Bucks on Monday, with the Bucks much more aggressive on the perimeter and in passing lanes.

In a glimpse of the Rockets’ thinking about their offense, coach Mike D’Antoni said the Rockets don’t adjust for an opponent, preferring to maintain their style and read the openings regardless of another team’s strengths.

“We just play our game,” D’Antoni said. “If you execute perfect offense, you can’t guard it. We try to be as close to perfect as we can. Obviously, we’re not. But if you do the right things offensively, you can’t guard it. So we don’t worry about what they do.”

Kidd: Harden’s patience a virtue

Having seen James Harden less than a week before facing Harden and the Rockets on Monday, Bucks coach Jason Kidd described the guard much as coaches described him for years.

Harden scored more against the Bucks last week than Kidd typically did, making 14 of 25 shots for 38 points, but Kidd was impressed with the way Harden similarly controls games as Rockets point guard.

“He puts a lot of pressure on the defense,” Kidd said. “His basketball IQ is very high. He’s seen a lot of different defenses so he knows what’s open. He’s very patient.

“Give him credit. He’s never in a hurry.”