Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni isn’t sure how his rotation will look with the addition of Carmelo Anthony, he acknowledged to Sam Amick of USA Today. Anthony officially signed with Houston on Monday but D’Antoni said it’s too simplistic to think he’ll just plug Anthony into Trevor Ariza‘s former spot in the starting lineup.
“I don’t know, and that’s something that we’ll have to work out. All I know is that we’ll try different combos — preseason, early season, and the good thing is that with analytics and with gut feelings and coaches and players, we’ll figure out what is the best way to play.”
There’s more from Amick’s Q&A with D’Antoni:
- Anthony and D’Antoni had some differences in New York when D’Antoni coached the Knicks. D’Antoni isn’t worried about a repeat in Houston. “In New York, when they gave away half the team [to Denver in the February 2011 trade] and everybody expected us to win a championship, it really wasn’t realistic. It put a lot of pressure on everybody, and it kind of burst the pipes. I think this is totally different.”
- D’Antoni feels confident that Anthony will fit in with the team’s other two stars, reigning Most Valuable Player James Harden and Chris Paul. D’Antoni noted that many people thought Harden and Paul couldn’t mesh when Paul was acquired last summer. “It’s like having Chris and James together. It was relatively non-eventful …and I think it’ll be the same thing. … We’ve just got to make sure we don’t get too far away from taking threes and layups and foul shots.”
- Continuing with that theme, D’Antoni said Houston is fighting fire with fire, trying to keep up with the star-laded Warriors. “Look at Golden State, how they had all those guys and you fit in [Kevin] Durant, I mean if you are committed to a certain style, and everybody is committed to the team, it works itself out.”
Melo said he’s willing to come off the bench now. Wonder if CP3 is giving him advice? 19 years in the league is a long time.
Anything less than the Rockets losing to GSW in the Western Finals and it’ll be D’Antoni/Anthony pointing blame at each other. Did it in NY, wouldn’t be surprised if it’s repeated here.
Right? There was pressure in NY and he says it’s “totally different” in Houston? Sure. You’re the top team in the West to take out GS. No pressure.
Melo isn’t expected to be the #1 option anymore though, and he’ll actually have a supporting cast other than post-prime Amare.
While that is true, he is the assumed ‘difference’ maker for Houston from last year considering the departure of Ariza.
Funny how fast thing change. 1 year ago IT said the Celtics would have to back up the brink truck and Melo was laughing at the idea of coming off the bench
Cousins will ruin the Warriors and Klay will leave. So will Green the following summer, Warriors era over and they’ll lose to the Rockets this coming season. Laugh at me all you want but it will happen.
The Warriors open their new arena the year after this one. KD and Thompson aren’t going any where. I can see Draymond hitting free agency and nobody offering the max, but somebody will outbid the Warriors, if he isn’t traded first.
we all have dreams maybe not this far fetched ;) but why would someone laugh at you.. it’s ok to dream!
Any MAJOR injury in Houston and we’ll see D’ant modify his approach by inserting Anthony.
I’ll guess D’ant will run scenarios of the such in preseason as well as in practice
Dantoni sez: 1s, 3s and layups.
Melo duz: pressured 2s.
Paul noz: You don’t want me frowning at you pal.
Harden adz: I can fix this, nobody can stop me if that’s what I want, and I want a title.
SIMPLE: Rotation is now Milk Chocolate, Almond, Fruit N Nut and Carmello, Cadbury Chocolate Bars.
You’re on drugs dude what are you even saying
Nentwigs I 100% agree
Whatever you do, make sure it’s exactly what Carmelo wants all the time.
D’Antoni= “Not this guy again”.
Cannot see Houston keeping up with the Lakers, the show time is back in town dudes.
We
I’ve notified your sponsor that you’ve been hitting the pipe again.
As one would think, MDA doesn’t seem all that excited about Melo II. More about giving his version of Melo I. As far as the Knicks, yeah it was a stupid trade, but pressure to win a title wasn’t the issue. Nor was Melo’s lack of effort / attention on defense (MDA didn’t seem to care much about that side of the court in those days). The problem was Melo rebelled against MDA’s P&R/spacing offense, and wouldn’t participate in it. MDA did try to find ways to get Melo to buy in. He got Melo taking more 3’s, successfully. But there is no room in this offense for wing isolation – and Melo was determined to make some.