Nets’ Atkinson appreciates mentors

In perhaps the highest praise Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni can offer, he summed up his feelings for Nets coach Kenny Atkinson, a former Rockets assistant who was an assistant coach under D’Antoni with the Knicks, his way.

“I hate the guy actually, couldn’t wait to get away from him,” D’Antoni said before the Rockets played the Nets on Monday.

That would be D’Antoni’s way of saying how highly he thinks of a peer. Atkinson phrased it more conventionally.

“He’s such a wonderful human being, (with) a wonderful family,” Atkinson said. “He’s meant a lot to my career. He’s doing a great job here. I’m so happy for him.”

Atkinson said he picked up much of his offense from his time under D’Antoni, especially the way D’Antoni uses pickand-roll, spacing and pace. He also cited his time working for Mike Budenholzer in Atlanta and Rick Adelman with the Rockets.

“It’s a combination of those, but I would say Mike is the biggest influence offensively,” Atkinson said.

Though the Nets are rebuilding and dealing with widespread injury issues, D’Antoni approved.

“It’s funny,” D’Antoni said. “All coaches say ‘he’s a really good coach’ because we think similarly. He was really good for us in New York. Great relationship. Great guy. Great family. I’m really happy for what he’s doing. He’s a good coach, good guy, too.”

Capela praises Bickerstaff

With J.B. Bickerstaff taking over as Grizzlies interim coach two years after he became Rockets interim coach following the similarly stunning dismissal of Kevin McHale, Rockets center Clint Capela had no doubt Bickerstaff could succeed as a coach if given the right chance.

It was more difficult to say if replacing David Fizdale with the Grizzlies would offer a better chance than taking over the Rockets, where he went 37-34 in the 2015-16 season.

“It’s a good opportunity for him, but it’s not easy (being) interim coach on a team that’s always losing as was our case two years ago,” Capela said. “It’s still an opportunity to perform. I hope he’s going to do well. I’m sure he is a good coach.”

Capela cited how clear Bickerstaff was in his instructions.

“I remember when I first got here, he was one of the only coaches I could understand his English because every word was so perfect,” said Capela, who is Swiss and was then in his second season after playing professionally in France.

D’Antoni laments Fizdale’s firing

Stunning as it was that the Grizzlies would fire “a good coach” with their dismissal of David Fizdale, Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni considered the business and could not be surprised by anything.

“First reaction is you hate it for Fizdale,” D’Antoni said. “He’s a good coach, a real good coach. We’ve lost four games this year and two of them came at his hands. You hate it for him, but on the other hand, it’s part of the business. It’s a wacky business. I think coaches escaped one year without anybody getting fired so you know that’s going to end pretty soon.

“You just hate it for him. Not being on the inside, I don’t know the reasons and I’m not here to judge.

“But I know he’s a good coach. I do know that for sure.”