D’Antoni tries expanded rotation
With Trevor Ariza and Gerald Green back Monday from two-game suspensions, the Rockets had their entire rotation healthy and available at the same time for the first time in more than a month, since Luc Mbah a Moute’s shoulder injury Dec. 13.
Green was signed two weeks later, so that with Green in the mix and Mbah a Moute, James Harden, Chris Paul and Nene returning from injuries in the past month, coach Mike D’Antoni expanded his rotation beyond his preference to go with eight or nine players.
“It’s a good problem to have, first,” D’Antoni said. “We’ll figure it out. Everybody’s going to have less minutes. It’s a good thing for a while. We just have to make sure guys stay in a rhythm and I don’t screw it up.”
D’Antoni said he would try to play 10 players, “but a little bit will depend on how the game goes.”
The Rockets had used a rotation with three guards (Harden, Paul and Eric Gordon) four forwards (Ryan Anderson, P.J. Tucker, Ariza and Mbah a Moute) and two centers (Clint Capela and Nene).
To also play Green, D’Antoni said he’d likely use small lineups more regularly. That would allow him to platy Green and give minutes to Ariza or Mbah a Moute at power forward while Anderson or Tucker plays center.
“It’s nice for me,” D’Antoni said. “I don’t know about the players. I think we can work the minutes out OK. They just have to give and take a little bit.”
Green reflects on media, Heat
After waiting until Dec. 28 to start his season, Rockets guard Gerald Green’s patience was tested again with a two-game suspension for entering the Clippers’ locker room, returning in time Monday to face the Miami Heat, one of his more recent former teams.
Green said he did “not want to talk about” the NBA ruling, giving him and Trevor Ariza two-game suspensions, but he did blame the media coverage for the NBA reaction.
“The media blew that up,” Green said. “That’s all I have to say. If it weren’t for the media being there, I would never have got suspended.
“Just keep doing what I’ve been doing. My team supports me. I went out there, I was still able to get into the gym and do my work. I’m just glad to be back.”
Green spent the 2015-16 season with the Miami Heat, the opponent Monday night in Toyota Center, averaging 8.9 points in 22.6 minutes per game.
Goran Dragic, Hassan Whiteside, Justise Winslow. Tyler Johnson, Josh Richardson and Udonis Haslem remain from that team.
“They still have kind of the same team,” Green said. “They are a good team. Well-coached. They have players buying into the system. Once you have that combination, any team can be dangerous.
“Obviously, they don’t have any All-Stars. They all play together. They do a good job communicating on defense with Hassan back there and do a good job pushing the pace with Goran Dragic.
“James Johnson has been very good playing point forward.
“It is a really good organization. I loved being in Miami. We had a really good team with D-Wade (Dwyane Wade), Chris Bosh, Hassan. Overall, it was a good time while I was there.”
Reluctant witness to NBA history
Though it is not an anniversary he celebrates, 12 years after Kobe Bryant scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors, Rockets development assistant Mike James on Monday vividly recalled what it was like to be on the receiving end.
“Even during the game, I think we could have done things differently,” James said. “Some guys were mesmerized by how much of a rhythm he caught.
“My focus was on trying to win the game. I remember in the third quarter saying to (Raptors coach) Sam Mitchell, ‘Let me guard Kobe.’ He looked at me and said, ‘I don’t want you go to get in foul trouble.’
“I was like, ‘This dude has 50 in the third quarter and you’re worried about me getting in foul trouble?’ ”
James had 26 points and 10 assists in the Raptors’ 122-104 loss but did not watch it until the 10th anniversary.
“It’s unfortunate to be a part of that history,” James said, “but at the same time, he’s a top 50 (player) and he deserves all the accolades that come to him.”