Anthony adjusts to coming off bench for first time

When the Rockets open the season on Wednesday, Carmelo

Anthony will do something he never has in 1,054 NBA games. He will come off the bench.

That offers a chance to accomplish something for the first time. But while Anthony adjusts to the change, he said he has not given a thought to winning the Sixth Man of the Year award. That’s what teammate Eric Gordon, also a long-time starter, did in his first season with the Rockets when he made the switch to coming off the bench.

“It’s hard. I haven’t even got myself mentally prepared to think like that,” Anthony said. “It’s even hard to think like that now. If it happens, it happens. This is a long season. All types of ups and downs are going to happen through the course of the season. If it happens, I guess everybody was a genius then.

“Ask me in March. I’ll probably have a different answer for you.”

Anthony came off the bench in the Rockets’ final three preseason games when P.J. Tucker, the starter at power forward, returned from his sore back. Anthony has generally checked in to replace Tucker roughly four minutes into each half. That has meant long stretches of playing time that include when Tucker returns to the floor as a backup center.

“It’s an adjustment, more so a mental adjustment than a physical adjustment,” Anthony said. “That would be the most … challenging part, shifting your mindset, shifting the way you approach the beginning of the game. The approach to the game is pretty much the same, but you’re three, four minutes behind now.

“It (the long stretches that come with playing starter minutes off the bench) is a physical adjustment, but I think I’m in pretty decent shape to be able to handle that. It’s something we’ve been working towards in this offseason and this preseason, playing that way. It is an adjustment for me mentally. For the most part, I think we will all enjoy it.”

9-man rotation in the works?

With Michael Carter-Williams back at practice Monday and Tuesday, coach Mike D’Antoni said he would also be in the Rockets’ opening-night rotation.

Carter-Williams missed the final three preseason games with a sore knee but is expected to be ready to play against the Pelicans on Wednesday.

Even with centers Marquese

Chriss (sprained ankle) and Nene (right calf soreness) out, that could mean a nine-player rotation, depending on if Carter-Williams and Gerald Green both play. A nine-player rotation is deeper than typical for D’Antoni, but he said he was fine with that.

“Typical nine guys, maybe 10, but probably nine,” D’Antoni said.

Told that seems out of character, D’Antoni said, “You think I’ll go less?”

He always does. “Nooooo,” D’Antoni said, knowing his history and reputation enough to be clearly tongue in cheek. “You see, that’s how rumors get started. You guys, got to start something. I never play less than 11, 12 guys.”

Uniforms to have first sponsor

The Rockets unveiled a uniform patch sponsor deal with ROKit phones on Tuesday, adding the ROKit logo to their uniforms in time for Wednesday’s opener.

The four-year deal also will include the naming rights for several Toyota Center lounges.

ROKit phones are prepaid cell phones.

“It’s a new company that’s coming out,” Rockets CEO Tad

Brown said. “We’re very excited about partnering with them. The brand, which is exciting for us, is a global brand, well-positioned to expand through India, South America, Latin America and China. Certainly we are in all of those places a very popular franchise. You’ll see them on our jerseys going forward. We expect to be involved with them for a long, long time.”

The NBA began permitting sponsorship patches on uniforms last season, but the Rockets’ partnership with ROKit this season is their first with a uniform sponsor.