Van Gundy: Carmelo not what Rockets need to get better
Former Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy still lives in Houston and has a good read on that franchise. And Van Gundy, recently named a Team USA coach for the Americas Tournament and World Cup qualifiers, isn’t sure Carmelo Anthony is “a natural fit” for a Houston team trying to dethrone the Warriors.
In Las Vegas working the summer league final four Sunday and Monday for ESPN, Van Gundy told The Post in a phone interview the Rockets need more defense, not more offense, after the Chris Paul bonanza.
“I think they have a lot on their plate integrating Paul and [James] Harden,” Van Gundy said. “They’re not going to be better offensively than they were last year. They were the second-best team in the league offensively. I thought they had defined roles everyone knew. [Coach] Mike D’Antoni did a fabulous job getting them to play on a consistent basis. The Chris Paul trade, there’s going to be some ups and downs, but they’re better equipped to win in the playoffs. Particularly if Harden has a bad night, they still have a superior player to play through. Their improvement is going to have to be defensively. So I’m interested in the Carmelo thing. I don’t necessarily see it as a natural fit.’’
The Knicks and Rockets have halted talks on the four-team trade with the arrival of general manager Scott Perry, who wants a chance to sit down with Anthony to pick his brain.
The Post reported president Steve Mills and Perry want to see whether Anthony is willing to expand his wish list. Portland, which was believed to be involved as a third team, now only wants in if they net Anthony, who has a no-trade clause. Anthony reportedly is only keen on the Rockets.
Van Gundy thinks Anthony would have to improve on defense for the Rockets to get a boost. Anthony lost a step on defense last season.
“He’s a very good player, yet they don’t need help of- fensively,” Van Gundy said. “
Unfortunately, what they need to combat Golden State is a two-way Hall of Famecaliber player, and they got one in Paul. So Anthony certainly is a Hall of Fame player, but whether he gives them great defensive versatility. … It is where Ryan Anderson struggled, in pick-androlls. So maybe Anthony will be more versatile defensively than Anderson, and maybe that’s the upgrade there.”