The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - The Mike D'Antoni Show 3-2-20

Episode Date: March 2, 2020

Rockets Head Coach Mike D'Antoni joins Matt each week to talk Houston Rockets Basketball

The latest on your Rockets. Can you assess the general culture in that locker room right now? Coming from the mouth of Coach Dan Tony. We can get it done. If we have a chance to win the championship, this will be here. Brought to you by Billiard Factory and Wingstop. Mike Dan Tony with us on Sports Talk 790. Home of your Rockets.

Here in New York City tonight where the Rockets will take on the New York Knicks. We'll have it for you right here on Sports Talk 790. Beginning at 6 o'clock. Our coverage begins officially at 5. this past 6 o'clock. Mike Dan Tony looking to get his squad to pick up their seventh win in a row. First of all, coach, good afternoon.

Congratulations on the win against Boston. Had to go extra five minutes, but it was certainly worth it. As your squad held the Celtic scoreless for almost three minutes in the end of overtime? Yeah, we're playing pretty well right now. And we, you know, had a battle a little bit of bad luck, a little bit of a miss a summit, but not bad. I think like you know coach you've gotten some really nice wins on a road this year

Boston Toronto the Lakers the clippers this is a team and obviously there's going to be a few bad losses that makes too but this is a squad that hasn't necessarily been afraid to go in some of the noisier venues across the NBA and I'll tell you what when that three-point shot went down for Brown it's in overtime you kind of felt like the air was let out of the balloon and your guys rallying were able to get the victory Yeah, we, you know, it kept working at it. It had been awful if we lost them just because we know we played well enough to win.

We didn't play great. First quarter was bad, but after that, defense second half really picked up. And a lot of good stuff is going to keep getting better at it. And, you know, we're not afraid to go into different venues and play. I thought we have veterans that aren't affected by that. So, you know, pretty good. So first we're good. Yeah, down 17 to the contest.

And I don't know if there are stats to back this up, but maybe 20 years ago, 17-point leads were almost impossible to overcome. It feels like today, coach, that 17 points, well, again, it's not fun to fall behind that much, can be picked up and taken care of, and one good quarter can fix all that. Do you feel that same sense that, especially with the way the teams are shooting three-ball like your squad is,

that no lead rally in the NBA is safe anymore? Yeah, I mean, that's the case. I think there is a stand out there that people with over 10 points or 15 points lead, 50 chance you win, even if you have a leader, if you're a high, 10 points or so. So it's not a determining factor. And, you know, obviously the three-point shot, teams are playing a little faster now than than they were in the last 10 years. And bet together, better offensive players, easier to get on runs, you know, 15 points not

not what it used to be. I'm assuming that you don't have to because these are a grown man, whether you're up 15 or down 15 early in the contest, you're not spending a whole lot of time saying, all right, guys, don't give up this lead. I mean, it's just the natural flow of the basketball game where there's going to be a certain set of runs. So it's not a big deal even the second quarter to be up or down by that margin.

Would that be fair to say? Well, it would be up. Sure. It is a big deal when you're out 17-year-old. You know, but it's what it is. You know, you don't want to quit. If you have a good team and culture is good, their energy's good, then they won't quit.

You know, but a lot of things go into it. You could be tired. You could be back to back. It could be missing a guy or two. You know, then you get beat. But you just keep playing the game. You just keep playing and try to do what's well. Usually if they're hot and they go up 17,

then they're going to cool off to the other end of it. If you keep plugging away, you'll get it back to, giving the striking range, anyone. I brought this note to the audience earlier that Westbrook and Hardin are on a streak of 20-plus point games and 30 consecutive games together. The last combo to do it for that long is Elgin Baylor and Jerry West back in the early 1960s.

When you hear those guys in that same conversation, are you amazed even as you see it every single night that these guys have been able to be as prolific offensively as it to have been this way for a better part of a half-year? season now? Well, I mean, it doesn't amaze me. They're both individually incredible offensive players and, you know, it's a great stat. I mean, obviously, Baylor and West were unbelievable players and kind of strange it hadn't happened before or after. But these two guys are highly, we just try to do everything we can to maximize what they do offensively and

give it to them. They bring it every night. So it's a, uh, it's, uh, It's great to have them on our team, that's for sure. Visiting with Coach Mike Dan Tony here on Sports Talk 790, presented to you by the billiard factory and by Wingstop. Russ's follow-up dunks, alley-ups. I also mentioned this to the audience a little while ago, coach, when he was winning his MVP year, we didn't see him every night because obviously we're worrying about our squad.

But I feel like if we were to take what we're seeing the last two months, these are the types of games he was having when he was winning his MVP award. He is in a different stratosphere right now for himself. Yeah, I'm sure it was, and a lot of similar areas. I mean, the guy isn't going to be a big guy. But the thing that I'm most happy with or the thing that gives us a real shot of going deep in the playoffs is that he's very efficient.

You know, he's doing a really good field goal to say. That was the whole idea behind everything we're trying to do. And he's finishing off with some great performance. That he has. In fact, he's got 20 plus points and occur high 30 straight games. This month, he's averaging 33 points a game. He's shooting 55%. Let me ask you about, and look, his three-point percentage hasn't been good this year,

but he's just taking a lot fewer of them this time of the year than he was maybe earlier in the year. Do you even sense at times, even when he's open, he's thinking twice about whether or not to take that shot that he's trying to find something, maybe something in the lane, maybe a little more of a higher percentage shot? And do you sometimes ask him to go ahead and don't be afraid to knock that three down or at least try it if there is somebody if there's nobody around him? No, we don't have that. We don't have that conversation. He's smart.

You know, if he can get to the rim, he's going to get to the room. That's his best shot. You know, me, my brother's a seven mid-range shot. I'd rather take a three-point shot, but he's better as a two-point shot. And if that's what he feels, that's what he should do. We just let him let him be Russell Westmore. That's good enough. It's good enough to be an MVP.

If we can get his numbers like he was that year and get him to keep being efficient, then we've got the best version of him, and it's a pretty good version. All right, some other guys I want to talk about. Tucker and Covington combined for six block shots. Everyone in America that watches one minute of NBA basketballs, like how are the rockets going to defend the interior?

How are they going to rim protect? Covington is right place, right time. you're getting, you know, James will get his fair share of blocks. PJ got him. I mean, you have to be beyond satisfied with what has happened with the number of block shots and just altered shots for a team that doesn't have, you know, a rotation guy taller than 6'9. Yeah, I mean, for sure.

I mean, what companies have given us, you know, this small version of what we'd do or wouldn't work without him. He's really the guy that's made of work just because of his, able to block shots, able to guard the rim, able to switch out on the little guys. He brings a lot in hidden big shots and spread the floors. There's a lot of stuff. But probably the better question.

Everybody should be asked, how is the other team going to defend the rim when they have nobody there? So, I mean, yeah, we can ask about how we're going to do it. I don't hear anybody else asking how the other team is going to do it. So it's, you know, a little bit of a cat and mouse. I mean, whoever can impose the will we're going to get to the rim the best.

We've got two the best of the business. And as soon as there it gets back 100%, we'll have three, right, lots of members maybe four that do it the best. And they've got problems. Now, if we can, you know, with Robert, we've been defending the rim pretty good. So, you know, it's definitely a win-win situation. No question about that.

And I think the national folks did a pretty good job on Saturday, showing some spacing of your team. Explain it to the audience if you can about, If you're on the other side of this, Mike, how do you defend a rocket team? Not that you're going to give away a lot of company secrets here, but it is quite a challenge because if you bring the centers out, that means you've got an open protection, and I guess that's what you're asking for. Case in point, Rudy Gobert trying to guard Russell Westbrook.

Russell is going to win that battle, what, 95 times out of 100? Well, that's how you win. That's how you defend it. You just hope that we don't play very well. Because if we play well, you're not defending it. going to stay in front of people that are almost impossible to stand front of. You have to help on James, but not leave the shooters. I mean, just the questions go on and on and on.

Like I said, if we, you know, we don't fall into just too much 101 or too much, not quick enough, not pushing the pace, then we'll have a good chance to get beat and they'll catch us and pound us. But if we do what we're supposed to do and play pretty well, then we've got to make shots and you've got to move the ball and all that. But we do that. And I think we're good about anybody. You have held your own in rebounding.

There have been some nights where the numbers aren't great, but I think it's one of those overblown stats. But I thought PJ's fourth quarter offensive rebounds against the Celtics was a huge part of the victory. In describing his play, first of all, his tenacity is amazing. He doesn't show any quick. What else about it makes him such a good offensive rebounder? Just goes after.

He's strong. He's got a pretty good notice for the ball, and he just puts that extra effort in to go get it. And then it helps that. There's nobody really around the realm to beat him to it. He's in the corner. The big is probably on the perimeter somewhere. So with his determination, he goes against it.

And definitely the game on Saturday night, we won because PJ got those extra rebounds. but also Russell Rusbler had a putback. Daniel House had a big putback. Other guys are also chiming in. So, you know, there's no reason once we should put them out. It's a foot race. It's a heart race.

And why can't we have it better than that? It's not a bulk or bigger or taller because the ball's going to be below the rim. And everybody's going to have a chance to go get us and see if we can. We should be able to do that. With this new group, it feels like to me, and you and I talked about this, a little bit on Saturday. The PJ's minutes are being reduced ever so slightly. Are you seeing a tangible benefit of that?

Yeah, I mean, he'll be down probably low 30s. That's where we like to keep him. He's incredibly durable. But, yeah, we want to get him down to there. I think it's better for him. And, you know, that's where Jeff Green comes in. He's another piece that we've added that makes all this work. He's extremely rangy and can hit threes.

and I think he'll just keep getting better. All right, another segment with Coach Dantone coming up in a manner moments here from New York City as the Rockets take out the New York. Nickabockers. Rockets. It's good! Rockets head coach, Mike Dan Tony, is heard weekly on the Matt Thomas show.

Coach, how goes it? Let's do it. Exclusive insight. That's the biggest takeaway from last night's game. The latest on your Rockets. Can you assess the general culture in that locker room right now? Coming from the mouth of Coach Dan Tony. We can get it done.

And if we have a chance to win the championship, this will be it. Brought to you by Billiard Factory and Wingstop. Mike Dan Tony with us on Sports Talk 790. Home of your Rockets. Time is 116. Coach is with us here from New York City, as am I. We'll have the Rockets and the Knicks for you here on 790.

Mike, you were able to get back Eric Gordon after missing some time against Boston. You could clearly tell there was some rust on him. What is his prognosis? You have to watch a game to game to see how the knee and leg are feeling. or where is he right now? No, I mean, he should be 100%. He's not, you know, game ready yet, but I thought second half is a lot better in the first half. And we'll just keep playing and hopefully, you know, round into shape of a free zone.

You've got yourself a very intriguing rotation. You've got McLemore. Jeff Green is getting some playing time for you. Austin's doing some things for you off the bench. Right now it looks like a solid of nine. That's kind of where most teams are. Are you comfortable with that number right at this point? Yeah, I think so.

I think nine's a good number. You know, James and Russ are going to play big minutes, so you can't really fit. It's hard to fit 10 in there. But nine and everybody seems to, you know, be able to get minutes. And he's going to take up some more minutes as he gets into better shape. So, yeah, I don't think we'll go past nine very much. You know, obviously Russ resting on back-to-backs.

Is there anything that your medical staff has told you? you and said, yeah, this is definitely making a difference? Or is this more about, you know what, he'll have more gas in the tank come playoff time and that these nights off on back-to-back. There's only going to be, I think, two left the rest of the way. We'll obviously pay some dividends later in the season, or at least

hopefully will. Well, I guess that's the hope. There's no medical evidence one way or the other, but you know, it's better for him. That's what they decided to do at the first year, and I'm sure we'll stick with it. Jeff Green, I know DeMari hasn't played a whole lot, but you've been able to give Jeff some time

here and there. Well traveled around the NBA, well-respected. Clearly, I got some applause for his time in Boston during their championship. Brian, what does it like to have him on your squad right now? He's good. And I think he fits what we need perfectly. And, you know, for his career, probably came in as a three, played some four. But for us, yeah, I think in probably his best position, he's a five. And he just, you know, you couldn't order a better player for what we need. If he's characteristic-wise, and that's long and can't three, smart, better. So, yeah, he fits perfectly. You know, there was some talk on TV this morning about,

well, other teams eventually go to this. And I think they were bringing up the example of Zion Williamson. What will Zion be at the end of the day? And, you know, you and I have talked about maybe this is a team that doesn't have positions per se. And look, everyone's going to watch us based on what this team does come postseason-wise. But in your rocking chair, when your career is all set done as a head coach, do you think you'll see more and more teams adapt this style, or it just happens to be a case where if you had a dominant seven-foot center,

you're going to use it to your ability? Do you think the trend will be more of what you're trying to put together right now here in 2020? You know, I think it just depends on the makeup of the team. I'm the general managers might try to get players to have that make sense. up. If they do, then they can. But, you know, like I said before, we're a strange team. We have guards that can guard the post really

well. That's it, Eric, and James and Russell come from him with his athleticism. So you have that going on. Then we have in all our ranging guys in the guard, point guards. So there's really, you know, if you've got a small guard, can't do it.

If you've got a big center that's good, but can't guard, you can't do it. So it's depends on the personnel, and it's always been there, but most intermarriages will get a team fit a traditional mold. We don't have a traditional mold, so I'm glad we went to it,

and, you know, and you're right, I mean, people will say, I said, I told you it wouldn't work, but it might not, but this is our best way to make it work, and for sure the other way wouldn't go to work. You know, you can't, you know, if somebody's got a more dominating center or more dominating the way they play,

you try to play the way they play, well, most of them you're not going to beat them. And probably the model is going to be more like Milwaukee, where the center is going to shoot three and he plays on the perimeter, but he guards this, you know, he stays inside as a center. And that's probably the model that most people will go to. I would think also, too, you've got to get the type of post player or a bigger man that's, you know, the normal three or maybe four and now he's out of five to buy into it. It feels like, and not that I don't think Robert. I mean, obviously, Robert Covington is going from a team in Minnesota to a team that's in a contentional like the Rockets.

You probably have to take a lot of time to convince him. But do you have to spend some time with some guys like that, Jeff Green in particular, Covington to say, you know what, normally you've done this in your career. We're asking you to do this, and how much of a transition was it in their mindset to go? You know what? I can do this because with me and playing this particular positioner on this spot on the floor, we're doing pretty well for ourselves. I mean, you hope so.

I don't have to convince them. I thought twice a week when they go pick up a paycheck, that kind of convinces them what they have to do. That's a good reinforcement. But, you know, in Phoenix, we moved everybody down the spot, and you'd hear the rumblings, you know, because, you know, you always hear some, you know, I can't do that I can.

Yeah, you can. And it's easier. And they find that. And then you start winning. Yeah, they want to do it. They know and don't have better stats. Yeah, they want to do it. it. No, it doesn't really take any

convincing. They're smarted out. They know that this is the best way to play. So it's safe to say you've never a player on one of your teams in a position not to succeed. You didn't throw somebody out there knowing they couldn't do the job because you wanted to prove a point. You always want them to succeed.

You can't do that. They're going to prove a point. You can't work if you do that. You know, we'll try things, and then you can see pretty quick whether it's going to work or not, and then you hope. You never know for sure. and you just try to maximize what you got and see what you know, play the best we can play.

We talked earlier about some impressive roadwinds. Coach, the two victories at Utah this year, not only got you in the fourth spot in the west, and obviously there's more the ladder to climb, but you got the tiebreaker in that. How big was that victory in particular, especially one of the more difficult road venues in the NBA? Oh, that's going to be huge, maybe,

and obviously every time at the end of the year, but getting the wind is huge. You know, we're in pretty good shape. We've got the game coming up on Thursday that's going to be very monumental in one home coin, you know, at the timebreaker, and also another game. But there's still, what, we got, 23 more left, something like that. So there's a lot of basketball play, a lot of ups and downs. But, you know, we could definitely get second place. And not a way as many games we can, but that's our goal.

We'll see if we can do it. I thought about the Clippers. I watched some of that game against Philadelphia yesterday. Is it hard to scout them because of the fact that some nights you've got pats out there, some nights you have Kauai's going and then you got Paul George missing? Is it a tough scout or do you know that you beat these guys around long enough that when they're on the floor, you know what to fully expect from them? Yeah, I think you know.

I mean, you're just watching one game and you know what they're trying to do and run and whether it's there or not, it doesn't really matter. When they're all out, they're there, they're really good. And that'll be a big test for us in the West that we have to contend with. And then, like I said, it's coming up Thursday, so make sure we win and win the one tonight, and then take care of business. What do you take away from this Knicks basketball team?

We just saw a couple weeks ago in Houston, you know, really had a great second quarter to kind of pull away. didn't shoot particularly well from three in that contest. They're just a young team trying to find identity. And when you move Morris in the trade, it kind of was maybe a situation where they're just, I don't know if they're trying to improve on their draft spot or whatever the case may be, but they've got some scores,

but it's just not meshing very well as a team. Well, I mean, they've got a lot of role players, and they don't have that one name that, you know, you actually need to, you know, get to some buckets to whatever really counts. But they hit the offensive boards, the number one on the offensive force. I don't be a big challenge as far as to keep them off the boards.

We play hard. We got to play hard. We got to come out in the mindset. Can't mess with them. And we have to play pretty well. They're an NBA team that has good potential and players that, individually players that are good. And, you know, if we let up, don't play well.

We can get beat. But we got to do our job. We'll leave it at that tonight. Rockets and Knicks going for another victory. It would be nine consecutive in the series between Houston and New York. Coach, thank you for the time. Get some rest. We'll see you later in the arena this afternoon, and thanks for the visit here on the show of us today. Bye, Matt. What's here?

You got it. That's Mike Dan Tony, head basketball coach of your Houston Rockets with us here on Sports Talk 790.