The Rockets were an excellent defensive team last season. It was a total team effort, but a couple of key individual reasons why the squad defended well are no longer wearing Rockets jerseys. Presumably, they’ll drop off a bit in that department then, yes? Maybe. Here’s the Houston Chronicle reporting the words of head coach Mike D’Antoni, who of course isn’t about to agree that the team will drop off in any way.
For the second time this week, Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni on Friday expressed great confidence about his team’s defense despite the departures in free agency of Luc Mbah a Moute and Trevor Ariza. He specifically cited the defensive abilities of Eric Gordon and James Ennis III who have both worked extensively with the starters in training camp.
The above will certainly be worth watching. Especially the role Carmelo Anthony winds up playing.
No matter what, the Rockets should be one of the West’s best squads again, but whether they can match last season’s success of course remains to be seen.
