D'Antoni: Rockets 'out of rhythm' after resting players late season
Is rhythm a concern for the NBA-best Houston Rockets after losing Game 3 to the Minnesota Timberwolves?
For the first time in franchise history, the Rockets (65-17) secured 60-plus wins and the best record in the NBA. Now, head coach Mike D'Antoni feels his team is out of sorts, struggling to get it together after resting players late in the season.
"I'd say (the last) couple months we haven't played really well," D'Antoni said, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon. "That's why I was worried the whole time about resting guys, doing this, getting out of rhythm. (People say), 'It doesn't really mean a whole lot.' Ehhhh, it does.
"Anyway, we are where we are. We'll be fine. We'll be OK."
It was an overall dominant season for the Rockets, who were one of two teams - Toronto Raptors being the other - that finished in the top six in both offense and defense. However, the Rockets have struggled to find their footing so far in the opening round after seeing Chris Paul and Eric Gordon miss games through their late-season stretch, as well as losing defensive stalwart Luc Richard Mbah a Moute to a dislocated shoulder for an extended period.
Houston is up 2-1 heading into its Game 4 tilt on Monday in Minnesota.