"I really just didn't have rhythm from the beginning of the game", he said. "Just having guys ready to play and having those guys work hard all year it makes it a little bit easier for us, for sure".
Sitting Leonard in Game 6 was a gamble by Popovich and he won big - San Antonio got the win without Leonard and that means four days off and treatment on the ankle before Game 1. D'Antoni acknowledged that fatigue may have played a factor.
Harden wasn't available on Friday, but took blame for the loss after the game.
It's no secret the Rockets were overwhelmingly dependent on Harden all season.
Leonard still led the Spurs with 22 points and 15 rebounds. On Thursday night, it appeared as if the MVP candidate simply could no longer hold the weight of his team's world on his shoulders, and crumbled after the slightest hint of adversity Houston faced. "Pau (Gasol) did a really good job of using his length at the rim, so hats off to them".
Sidney Crosby Not Evaluated for Concussion After Crashing Headfirst into Boards
The Pittsburgh Penguins are averaging 3.4 goals per game and are scoring on 23.1 percent of their power plays. He reported no symptoms. "I mean, there shouldn't be any wondering about it", Crosby said.
Houston Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni watches from the sideline during the first half in Game 6 of the team's NBA basketball second-round playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs, Thursday, May 11, 2017, in Houston. The Rockets had been 3-0 against San Antonio in postseason series, winning in the first round in 1980, the conference semifinals in 1981, and the conference finals in 1995. "But to me it's a joke to get on him, because we're not where we are (without Harden)". The Spurs led by 19 at halftime, scored on their first possession of the second half, and never led by fewer than 20 the rest of the night, even without Kawhi Leonard, who missed the game due to a sprained left ankle.
For D'Antoni, being ousted by coach Gregg Popovich and the Spurs is nothing new.
Already without veteran Tony Parker, who suffered a season-ending quadriceps injury in Game 2, the Spurs looked to be the underdog entering this one without Leonard's scoring and defense. San Antonio compiled a 60-37 rebounding edge and limited Houston to 28.6 percent shooting. "It was right across the board, so we'll figure that out and get better this summer and then come back and do it again".
"That's the mountain we've got to climb", D'Antoni said.
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