Mike D’Antoni is coaching a second-round NBA playoff team for the first time in 10 years.
Houston’s season has turned into vindication at his fifth NBA head-coaching stop. It has enhanced memories of how D’Antoni thrived on his last playoff deep dive in Phoenix and glossed over his sideline struggles with the Lakers and the New York Knicks.
D’Antoni’s league-transforming style was embraced for 10 years, but not with the teams he coached, until this season with Houston. As Rockets coach, he fostered James Harden’s transformation from All-NBA snub to most valuable player candidate, Houston’s 14-win bump over last season and the Rockets’ position to be tied with San Antonio entering tonight’s Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals.