D’Antoni’s highlight is camaraderie with his players

When Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni talked before Wednesday’s Game 2 about the reasons he has enjoyed the season so much, he never mentioned 65 regular-season wins or five victories in the first six games of the NBA playoffs.

He did not cite the Rockets’ aspirations, instead citing his pleasure with the group that has shared the season.

“It’s been a great year,” D’Antoni said. “Coaching for me is an unbelievably great experience, 90 percent of the time. There’s some tough days. You make some mistakes that you shouldn’t have done. You lose games. To me, it’s all about the ride, the people you’re with, who you’re battling with. I’ve been extremely lucky. I’ve had players I can’t wait to go into the locker room and talk to them.

“When that happens, we win, we lose, I can handle whatever. We’re going to get their best shot. It’s rewarding in the sense of how great our chemistry and how nice human beings we have in our locker room. When it’s like that, life is pretty good.”

Jazz’s Kokoskov to coach Suns

Jazz assistant coach Igor Kokoskov was made Suns head coach, the team announced before Game 2 on Wednesday.

An assistant in Phoenix under Alvin Gentry, Kokoskov, who lives in Phoenix in the offseason, is in his third season with the Jazz after stints with the Magic, Cavaliers, Pistons, Clippers and the Suns. The Serbian-born Kokoskov, 46, will be the first coach born in Europe to be an NBA head coach.

“We are so happy for Igor and his family,” Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey told the Salt Lake City Tribune. “Igor is a man of integrity who has worked very hard at his craft.”

Jazz’s Mitchell shows maturity

As rapidly as Jazz rookie star guard Donovan Mitchell has progressed throughout the season, he has spent the postseason with even greater responsibility for his team’s chances, experiences Jazz coach Quin Snyder said can accelerate his development even more.

For Mitchell, that could be especially true given the caliber of competition he has faced.

“That experience in and of itself forces you to play on a different level and provides you with different challenges,” Snyder said. “In his case, whether it is Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul or James Harden, the guys he has played against thus far in the playoffs are some of the best players in the league.

“I think he’s been realistic about those matchups because he is so respectful. He has an interesting combination of respect but not being afraid. If you were to lay out those matchups …I know how I’d feel.”

Mitchell averaged 28.5 points in the first round, had 21 in Sunday’s Game 1 and 17 in Wednesday’s 116-108 win.

“He is their dominant scorer at this point,” said Rockets forward Trevor Ariza, who matches up with Mitchell.

Mitcell has taken on added responsibility with point guard Ricky Rubio out, moving Mitchell to the point while the Jazz need him to aggressively look to score.

“He’s been able to learn on the go the whole year,” Snyder said. “We wouldn’t have been able to get out of the first round if he wasn’t able to do that. Now, we’re in a position we’re asking even more.

“In addition to (playing against) the best team in the league, he’s playing the point. He has to think the same way, but in different situations. He has to be aggressive and be a catalyst. I’ve learned not to be content with him to appreciate what he does, but also to try to demand more and more of him because that’s what he wants.”

D’Antoni prefers to ease in Gordon

Though Rockets guard Eric Gordon had gotten off to a slow start in the postseason, making 31.4 percent of his shots and 28.9 percent of his 3s in the first six games before Wednesday night’s Game 2 against the Jazz, coach Mike D’Antoni said he is cautious about calling plays in an effort to get his sixth man going.

Gordon, who had 15 points on 5-for-16 shooting Wednesday, typically comes into the game after a timeout at roughly the six-minute mark of the first and third quarters, but D’Antoni said he does not call a set play for him until Gordon has more time on the floor, not wanting him to miss and question himself because he was not warmed up.

“I like for him to get in the flow,” D’Antoni said. “At the next timeout, probably. That’s normally what I would do.

“I don’t want to get him not going. Sometimes, you draw up a play and he misses, it’s because he’s cold and … he’s thinking about missing a wideopen shot. I’d rather he get in the flow, get a layup, get foul shots. Then the next time out you can get him something, get in rhythm.”