Back-to-back welcome test for D’Antoni
INDIANAPOLIS — The Rockets faced the Pacers in a quick turnaround after Saturday night’s victory in Houston, with the tip Sunday just 22 hours after the start of Saturday’s game and after a 3 a.m. arrival at the hotel in Indianapolis.
Asked if the schedule would lead to him adjusting his normal plans, coach Mike D’Antoni said: “Nah. I’ll coach the whole game.”
As for his players, D’Antoni said he does not go into games with a plan to substitute differently, but watches for signs that he needs to adjust.
“You try to get a feel for the game,” D’Antoni said after the Rockets’ 118-95 win over the Pacers. “You try to watch them. If guys obviously are struggling or trying to find energy, you might do a quicker substitution.
“But I don’t go in with any preconceived notions because different guys react to different things. I try to pay more attention to it than I normally would.”
D’Antoni said that requiring at least 23 or 24 hours between tips might be a good idea, but had no complaints with the schedule this weekend. The NBA does prohibit back-to-back with teams flying across more than one time zone.
“It would be nice, but it’s fine,” D’Antoni said. “Everybody knows we have this schedule. It’s a bit of a marathon. That’s what makes the NBA great. It’s not easy. It shouldn’t be easy.”
Gordon praises Pacers’ Oladipo
Many have been surprised with how well the Pacers have made out in their trade of Paul George for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis, but Rockets guard Eric Gordon had seen enough of his fellow Indiana Hoosier to have expected his success early this season.
“His sophomore year, I worked out with (Oladipo) a lot while he was at IU,” said Gordon, while sifting through a pile of tickets he was leaving for friends and family. “When they made that Sweet 16 run, I worked out with him before that season during the lockout (in 2013). That’s when I really got to know him.
“He has the capability and talent. He’s very athletic and his jump shot seems to be improving. It’s almost like every play he’s trying to be very aggressive and score the ball. He’s definitely a lot better.”
Gordon and teammate Demetrius Jackson, who is from South Bend and played for Notre Dame, got only a short trip home. Jackson said he spends so much of his offseason in Indiana he would not complain about just a few hours at home during the season. Gordon was happy to miss the Indiana weather.
“It happens, but I’m fine with it,” Gordon said. “I’d rather be in Houston where it’s good weather all the time. It works out.”
Nene misses trip to Indianapolis
Rockets backup center Nene did not make the trip to Indianapolis for a game he was expected to miss in order to rest.
But he hurt his right ankle in Saturday’s game, leaving after seven minutes, leading to the decision to have him remain in Houston rather than make two flights in less than 24 hours.
“He’d have made the trip,” coach Mike D’Antoni said. “He just wouldn’t have played.
“No use flying and let it puff up. He can get treatment and stuff back home and rest. It worked out OK. He does have an ankle problem. I don’t think it will affect him Tuesday (when the Rockets host the Raptors).”