Rockets Would Be Foolish to Move on From Mike D'Antoni
Mike D'Antoni entered the 2019-20 season on the final year of his contract as head coach of the Houston Rockets. Both sides could not agree on an extension and it's possible the team moves on from hm after the conclusion of the season.
D'Antoni has gotten the team to the Western Conference Semifinals in all three of his seasons and has twice run into the buzzsaw of the Golden State Warriors. His fate is now apparently in the hands of general manager Daryl Morey.
Rockets owner leaving Mike D'Antoni's future in Daryl Morey's hands. https://t.co/uaHB2bLq93 pic.twitter.com/Wn2eZj89bQ
— theScore (@theScore) June 7, 2020
There's no reason to move on from D'Antoni, regardless of how this season ends. The conclusion of the season later this summer is going to be bizarre and even an early exit should not force the coach out the door.
D'Antoni won Coach of the Year for the 2016-2017 and led the Rockets to 65 wins during the 2017-18 season, coming within one game of the NBA Finals that campaign. He's dealt with a ton of turnover in Houston and kept this team's identity intact while maintaining contender status.
Mike D’Antoni on playing n midst of the pandemic at age 69:”1st of all the NBA,I trust them.They will make it as safe as possible-Nothing’s ever full proof,but that’s anything.I’m completely comfortable-Every age group is susceptible to catching it-I wear a mask for other people” pic.twitter.com/XtaZBBQZPU
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) June 7, 2020
There are surely Rockets fans who believe D'Antoni may be holding the team back. However, it'll be hard to upgrade with the current coaching pool out there and he deserves another shot at a title in a normal season. The Warriors are not the same team they were, at least for now, and the West is more wide open than it's been in five years.
Give the man a one-year extension and then make a decision after 2020-2021.