Woj Bomb: D'Antoni to HOU

[Mr. E]

JVG wanted full operational control like his brother in Detroit.

Houston was not willing to give that to him.

That was never true. JVG was Morey's preferred candidate. They were going to work together.

[Shock Defeat]

Les Alexander forced the hiring of D'Antoni against Morey's wishes.

Then when D'Antoni fails, Les is going to fire Morey.

Man, it's nice being the owner of a team.

[MaxRider]

Morey did not want to hire D'Antoni, Les Alexander forced the move.

we do not know that
we only know JVG was Morey first option and Les don't want him

Morey is on record as saying that we need to hire a coach to improve our D, you don't way that and then turn around and hire D'Antoni.

Morey said many times, they will hired assistant for the defense coordinate
Kelvin Sampson was doing that before he left to coach for UH

[MaxRider]

Morey did not want to hire D'Antoni, Les Alexander forced the move.

we do not know that
we only know JVG was Morey first option and Les don't want him

Morey is on record as saying that we need to hire a coach to improve our D, you don't way that and then turn around and hire D'Antoni.

he didn't specifically say a head coach for the job
he said defensive specialist for staff, that can mean assistant too

[Doctor MJ]

Why do teams keep hiring this guy when he has been successful with only one team and a failure otherwise?

I have to say, watching D'Anotni try to get along with Harden is going to be a popcorn event.

On the other hand, I thought D'Antoni was subverted both in New York and Los Angeles. Melo seemed to want him gone in New York, and Kobe did not seem to want him around in LA.

Still, if D'Antoni can't get along with vets then that is an issue.

D'Antoni is an offensive genius. What he's not is Mr Congeniality and he's also reportedly not someone who is going to go heavy on defense.

D'Antoni likes his offense to run through one decision maker who can attack on transition, score in the half court, and excels at getting the ball to guys shooting 3's. There are very few guys in the past decade who scream "D'Antoni guy" as much as Harden to me.

We'll see if it actually works, but this move makes sense for Houston, and frankly I don't see anything about it that could be seen as anti-Moreyball.

What I will say is that because of the timing and D'Antoni's big name, Morey may be about to lose (some) power one way or another.

If D'Antoni flops, I'd guess Morey doesn't get to choose the next coach.

If D'Antoni is a huge success, then D'Antoni likely becomes seen as the savior and most powerful force in the organization.

[TinmanZBoy]

not bad not bad
let the real linsanity era begin....lol

[Doctor MJ]

JVG wanted full operational control like his brother in Detroit.

Houston was not willing to give that to him.

That was never true. JVG was Morey's preferred candidate. They were going to work together.

Interesting. I hadn't paid that close attention.

[HotRocks34]

Here are some thoughts on the D'Antoni/Alexander/Morey stuff from a guy who contributes to ESPN about the Rockets (ESPN affiliate blog)

http://www.red94.net/on-the-houston-rockets-coaching-search/16393/#

Reports stated while general manager Daryl Morey preferred and held interest in Jeff Van Gundy and Frank Vogel, neither candidate even so much as received an interview due to the lack of interest from team owner Les Alexander.

...

My problem, however, is that all indications are that this (hiring D'Antoni) would be a Les Alexander move

...

After last season’s debacle, one could understand why Morey might have lost some autonomy with Alexander in regards to such decisions.

This is what I've heard and mirrors my own thoughts on the matter. I'm not saying Morey is one foot out the door, but it seems like Alexander is "neutering" him a bit in a way that reminds me of what Colangelo did to Morey protege Hinkie before Hinkie resigned.

Has Alexander permanently lost faith in Morey? Is Morey going to go? I have no idea. I'm just saying that this hire seems to be an Alexander move and it also seems like a bit of a public slap in the face to Morey.

[TinmanZBoy]

Why do teams keep hiring this guy when he has been successful with only one team and a failure otherwise?

I have to say, watching D'Anotni try to get along with Harden is going to be a popcorn event.

On the other hand, I thought D'Antoni was subverted both in New York and Los Angeles. Melo seemed to want him gone in New York, and Kobe did not seem to want him around in LA.

Still, if D'Antoni can't get along with vets then that is an issue.

D'Antoni is an offensive genius. What he's not is Mr Congeniality and he's also reportedly not someone who is going to go heavy on defense.

D'Antoni likes his offense to run through one decision maker who can attack on transition, score in the half court, and excels at getting the ball to guys shooting 3's. There are very few guys in the past decade who scream "D'Antoni guy" as much as Harden to me.

We'll see if it actually works, but this move makes sense for Houston, and frankly I don't see anything about it that could be seen as anti-Moreyball.

What I will say is that because of the timing and D'Antoni's big name, Morey may be about to lose (some) power one way or another.

If D'Antoni flops, I'd guess Morey doesn't get to choose the next coach.

If D'Antoni is a huge success, then D'Antoni likely becomes seen as the savior and most powerful force in the organization.

second this,

[HotRocks34]

this move makes sense for Houston, and frankly I don't see anything about it that could be seen as anti-Moreyball..

Great points and you might be 100% correct. I guess I should have said the move seems anti Morey rather than anti Moreyball, if I implied/said that.

[Mr. E]

not bad not bad
let the real linsanity era begin....lol

Please don't even joke about that.

[Mr.Raptorsingh]

Y'all ready for Harden playing PG with another SG alongside him? It's going to happen y'all.

[HotRocks34]

What I will say is that because of the timing and D'Antoni's big name, Morey may be about to lose (some) power one way or another..

Exactly. This is my own intuition of what is happening or might happen. Sorry, I missed this part when quoting your post before.

[HotRocks34]

not bad not bad
let the real linsanity era begin....lol

Please don't even joke about that.

Will never happen with Harden there, I don't think. I doubt any of the involved parties want to go through those 2 years again.

Now if Harden decides to take his talents to another team, however...

[Kupchak9]

Heard they're going to hire Byron Scott and Mike Brown as assistant coaches too.

[BIG Game]

Hareden was on board right after hearing D'Antoni would never require him to play any Defense.

[NBA Fan 1234]

Lol

[beach house]

I have to say, watching D'Anotni try to get along with Harden is going to be a popcorn event.

On the other hand, I thought D'Antoni was subverted both in New York and Los Angeles. Melo seemed to want him gone in New York, and Kobe did not seem to want him around in LA.

Still, if D'Antoni can't get along with vets then that is an issue.

D'Antoni is an offensive genius. What he's not is Mr Congeniality and he's also reportedly not someone who is going to go heavy on defense.

I think it was Pau and Dwight who had the most problems with D'Antoni in LA, not so much Kobe.

I think Kobe was the core malcontent as regards D'Antoni in LA, although definitely Pau/Dwight were not fans, either.

One thing I actually like about D'Antoni is that he will stand up to players. Of course, a coach has to pick his battles carefully.

fun fact - kobe chose number 8 initially when entering the league because he grew up in italy and it was the number worn by his idol and favorite player in italy...



that player was mike d'antoni

[sfernald]

Hardens happy, means he still doesn't have to play any defense

Right coach for the right player

[Butch718]

D'Antoni doesn't like defense either, so it should be a match made in heaven.


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