At the start of the interview process in their search for a new coach, the Houston Rockets wanted two things: a veteran and someone to fix defense.
Houston is in the process of checking off one category with the hire of Mike D’Antoni. Multiple sources said the team is finalizing a three-year deal, with a team option for a fourth, to bring the 65-year-old D’Antoni to Houston.
D’Antoni should make the offense more efficient and not so reliant on shooting guard James Harden, who led the NBA with 566 isolation possessions (Carmelo Anthony was second with 393). Harden also commanded the basketball with a touches/possession percentage of 85.1. D’Antoni will lower those numbers with quicker pace up the floor and more pick-and-roll plays.
Harden didn’t have a good chemistry with Dwight Howard, the starting center, on pick-and-roll plays this season, but did seem to find success with backup center Clint Capela. He caught passes near the rim and appeared to be more athletic than Howard when going to the basket on pick-and-roll plays.
D’Antoni’s offenses have often been fantastic, highlighted by a three-season stretch in which his Phoenix Suns averaged 110.4, 108.4 and 110.2 points per game, leading the league in scoring each time.
Offense isn’t the Rockets' problem with Harden leading the way; he did finish second in the league in scoring this season. Making sure 3-point shooters hit their shots and get quick open looks is.
A roster change from Rockets general manager Daryl Morey has the potential to solve some of these offensive problems by upgrading the talent.
It will be interesting to see what D’Antoni does at point guard. Patrick Beverley currently runs the point with Harden as the off-guard. Yet D’Antoni’s arrival could mean more touches for Beverley.
The biggest problem for D’Antoni has traditionally been defense. In his first season with Phoenix, 2004-05, the Suns finished last in the NBA in opponent points scored, allowing 103.3 points per game. As a result of routinely being at or near the top of the league in pace, D'Antoni teams have typically finished in the bottom half of the league in points allowed.
Houston allowed 106.4 points per game last season, sixth-worst in the league and tops among teams entering the postseason; Morey said improvement there was a top offseason goal. The Rockets also gave up a league-high 970 offensive rebounds.
D’Antoni would reportedly like to hire Memphis assistant coach Jeff Bzdelik to help with the defense. Bzdelik, 63, is a longtime assistant and formerly head coach of the Denver Nuggets and three college programs. In 1997, Sports Illustrated named Bzdelik the NBA's best advance scout.
D’Antoni could also add Rex Kalamian, an assistant coach with Toronto who has a good relationship with Harden, and Roy Rogers, an assistant coach with Washington.
Worth noting is that D'Antoni's teams have posted winning records in six of his 12 seasons as a head coach; his squads have often proved unable to consistently improve defensively.
The Rockets needed to get this right after letting Kevin McHale go in early November. They found their man in a veteran coach who has a track record of making the offense better and who will make a commitment to the defensive end.