CREECH ON D’ANTONI’S STYLE.
G uard Eric Gordon remembers the first conversation he had about his new role with the Rockets. • He was surprised by what his new coach, Mike D’Antoni, was asking him to do. • Gordon didn’t sign with the Rockets to be a reserve, yet there he sat while D’Antoni suggested Gordon come off the bench.
Before the 2016-17 season, Gordon had started in 398 of the 417 NBA games in which he’d played. D’Antoni’s request was alarming. “It wasn’t what I signed up for,” Gordon said.
But he listened and agreed to give it a try.
Before long he understood the role and its importance.
“I realized we were a better team this way,” Gordon said. “And I realized that was all that mattered to me.”
He didn’t give it much thought after that.
And guard Pat Beverley didn’t give his new role any more thought. Neither did guard James Harden. Or any of the other players.
Everyone buys into scheme
D’Antoni asked everyone to change when he took over.
And the players realized quickly that it was for the best.
So when discussion of the Rockets’ chemistry pops up — and it often does as a key factor to their success this season — the players all point to their coach.
D’Antoni came in and built a system. He changed a culture. The Rockets won because he did. “He made a lot of adjustments,” Gordon said. “I never thought I’d come off the bench. Nobody ever thought (Harden) would be a point guard. Everybody had success off of that.
“It’s been a great year. Everybody’s learning new roles. Everybody learned a new role this year. Now, it’s just keep on, make it to the next step.” Harden became a point guard. Beverley was asked to play off the ball and do all the “dirty work.”
Forward Ryan Anderson was asked to adjust and create better floor spacing.
Center Clint Capela was asked to make a giant leap and play more minutes. And so on and so forth.
D’Antoni expected it to take time, expected growing pains.
He looked at the first 20 games on the schedule and worried about results. They had a tough stretch to start the year including a five-game trip with stops in Cleveland, Washington and San Antonio.
If the Rockets were losing a lot and by big margins while everyone was adjusting to new roles, it would have slowed progress. That didn’t happen.
They lost to defending champion Cleveland by eight points. Harden had 41 points and 15 assists in the game.
They won at Washington and San Antonio.
In the 19th game of the season, the Rockets traveled to Golden State and beat the Warriors in double overtime.
They started the season 13-7 and were one of the teams to watch.
“They started early, they got ready and we jumped out ahead of the ball before we got in trouble,” D’Antoni said. “It gave us confidence, and we rolled into what we did.”
The early chemistry surprised him. It surprised everyone.
“I’ve never been on a team like this,” Beverley said. “We just all got along right away.”
Added Gordon: “We had the same goal. We wanted to win. And we each wanted to do whatever would help the next guy be better. It happened fast.”
The reason it clicked so fast, the players say, is because of D’Antoni.
“I think that our coaching staff brought that type of chemistry,” forward Trevor Ariza said. “Coach is with you when you are here. When you are on his team, he is with you no matter what. He gives you that type of encouragement all the time. That can’t be anything but contagious.”
What made the chemistry most interesting this season was the stark difference from last season.
After Kevin McHale was fired 11 games into the season, the Rockets struggled to connect. They were disjointed and streaky the rest of the way.
From last July on, this year’s team had none of that. The players were focused and ready.
Off-the-court friendships
And they liked each other. “We are friends off the court,” Gordon said. “I think that shows when we play. We are more than just teammates.”
They are teammates who bought in completely. It created the perfect storm.
With his players ready to play for each other, ready to listen to him, ready to win, D’Antoni could change the team from top to bottom from the start. It worked. The Rockets improved by 14 games, winning 55. Harden’s switch to point guard made him a top MVP candidate. Gordon’s play off the bench made him a sure thing for Sixth Man of the Year. D’Antoni should be named the league’s Coach of the Year.
Most importantly, the culture has shifted for the Rockets.
When players are added this offseason, they’ll walk into a system that is bigger than the team.
A foundation is set and D’Antoni and the Rockets will make it stronger.
“Now we have a style,” he said. “Now we know what the game plan is.”
Now, the Rockets have an identity.