Philippines, 14 Feb 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


How to beat the Warriors? Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni has a sure-fire formula


PhilBoxing.com




The Houston Rockets had extended the Golden State Warriors to seven games for the Western Conference Finals last season.

Head coach Mike D?Antoni and his Rockets, in fact, led the best?of-seven title series, 3-2, and could have won the pennant had Chris Paul not suffered injury.

That, according to NBA pundits and Houston fans, allowed the Warriors to take Games 6 and 7 on the way to sweeping LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavs for all the marbles.

D?Antoni, the 2016-2017 season coach of the year, knows this coming season?s championship looks to have been reserved for the Warriors, who?ve won three of the past four titles and are gunning for a three -peat.

Despite acquiring 10-time All Star Carmelo Anthony this summer, D?Antoni?s belief for the Warriors to collect another crown is as true as ever although during the pre-season Open Court interview with the coaches, the 67-year-old West Virginia native talked about a sure-fire formula on how to beat the title-defending crew from the Bay Area.

The Warriors, he said, are unbeatable with the addition of all Star center DeMarcus Cousins to the already star-studded roster of his friend Steve Kerr built around MVPs Stephen curry and Kevin Durant.

?Just eliminate the Warriors from the NBA,? D?Antoni suggested smiling and without butting an eyelash. ?That's one way to compete with the Warriors.?

?It?s true. If the Warriors were no longer part of the NBA, it would open up a ton of opportunities for other teams to win the title,? D? Antoni reasoned out, drawing laughter from his fellow bench tacticians.

Even then, the Warriors are odds-on favorites to win their fourth title in five seasons and third in a row. Based on the make up of the conference, it?s pretty much up to Houston to knock this team off.

D?Antoni?s counterpart on the San Antonio Spurs front, meanwhile, coach Gregg Popovich, had an equally laughable comment on new-recruit DeMar DeRozan?s defensive prowess or lack of it.

Reacting to DeRozan?s statement that he was looking forward to getting easier shots now that he was a member of the Spurs, Pop trolled his new shooting guard in conversation with media early this week.

?I don?t (know) why he said that because we?re only going to play him on the defensive end,? the ever quotable Popovich replied. ?We?re not throwing him the ball. I forgot to tell him that. You guys can go ahead and tell him so he knows.?

DeRozan, who was acquired by the Spurs from the Toronto Raptors in July as part of the Kawhi Leonard trade, is a four-time All-Star and has scored 20 or more points per game in each of the last five seasons. He has been known as a defensive minus for much of his nine-year NBA career though.

It?s safe to say that DeRozan probably won?t mind the friendly jab however, as he has held his new head coach in high regard for many years now.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Cold Comfort: Tapales and Vitor Frozen Out in Moscow Heartbreaker
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 14 Feb 2026
  • WBC Celebrates 63 years of dedication to the sports and fighters
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 14 Feb 2026
  • BOXING STARS FROM AROUND THE WORLD LINING UP FOR 2026 HALL OF FAME WEEKEND IN "BOXING’S HOMETOWN"
    , Sat, 14 Feb 2026
  • Filipino Boxers Make Weight in Brico Santig's Valentine's Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 14 Feb 2026
  • Filipinos Vitor and Tapales Take on Russians for IBF Asia Titles in Moscow Today
    By Dong Secuya, , Fri, 13 Feb 2026
  • Manny Pacquiao Promotions Returns to Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif. with a Pair of World Championship Bouts
    , Fri, 13 Feb 2026
  • IOAN CROFT AND GARAN CROFT SIGN FOR MATCHROOM BOXING AS EDDIE HEARN LOOKS AHEAD TO BRIGHT FUTURE FOR EXCITING WELSH TWINS
    , Fri, 13 Feb 2026
  • 3 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Marco Antonio Barrera Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas
    , Fri, 13 Feb 2026
  • Day One Concludes at 2026 USA Boxing International Open
    , Thu, 12 Feb 2026
  • Female Boxing GOAT Katie Taylor to be Special guest at All-N.E. Golden Gloves Thursday, Feb. 12, in Lowell, MA
    , Thu, 12 Feb 2026
  • Brandon McCarthy Signs with Wise Owl Boxing, Set to Make Noise at 135 lbs
    , Thu, 12 Feb 2026
  • Filipino Boxers Set for Action on Valentine's Day in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • Oklahoma Outplays LA Lakers, 119-110; Arrests Skid to Hold on to League Lead
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • Malaya Vibrations to play gig at 5th MFPI Mindanao Summit
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • Fight of the Night in Thailand: Ador Torres and Sairike Tuolewutayi Battle to a Thrilling Draw
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • Young Australian Benji Birchell Claims Title Win in Thailand
    , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • Tickets for the Inaugural “Mike Tyson Invitational” Amateur Fight Night on Saturday, March 14, in Las Vegas Are on Sale Now
    , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • 2026 USA Boxing Men's Elite High Performance Team and Squad Rosters Announced
    , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • IIEE, SAEP shared lead, PIChE won 3rd in a row in the PTC WED NEMO Chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • The Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo RETURNS! Saturday May 2, 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV
    , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 9 FEBRUARY 2026: Figueroa Stops Ball in 12; Medina Outpoints Curiel; Asanau, Unal Win in Montreal
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 10 Feb 2026
  • Paradero gets a rematch against Francisco
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 10 Feb 2026
  • Carcedo wins WBA Asia South super welterweight title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 10 Feb 2026
  • Shark attack in Florida Marco “El Tiburón” Romero Making waves on Feb. 19
    , Tue, 10 Feb 2026
  • 19-1 Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga returns on February 21 to Atlantic City
    , Tue, 10 Feb 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.