LAKE CHARLES, La. - 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.
“You hate to lose those guys,” D’Antoni said. “They’re great, without a doubt, but we’re going to be really good. A lot of the minutes Trevor was playing there, we’ll have Eric Gordon playing there.