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Conflicting reports on Mike D'Antoni having a second interview with Rockets

ESPN is stating that D'Antoni has a second interview with the Rockets, while Fox 26's Mark Berman reports no interview is in place.

By Ryan Dunsmore
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

The Houston Rockets still need a head coach. As of Tuesday night, ESPN's Marc Stein and Calvin Watkins reported that former Suns/Lakers/Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni was in line for a second interview with the Rockets for their coaching vacancy.

The report goes as far as to say that D'Antoni was to meet face-to-face with Rockets owner Leslie Alexander.

Countering that report is Fox 26 (KRIV) Sports Director Mark Berman. Berman tweeted on Wednesday morning that the Rockets don't have a second interview set up with D'Antoni.

Berman has been a staple of Houston sports media for 30-plus years. It would be odd if Berman would throw out this tweet as a smoke screen for the Rockets in hopes of not showing their hand with D'Antoni. I would lean toward believing the Rockets are not as far long as the ESPN report details -- which included noting D'Antoni bringing in a defense heavy coach as his top assistant.

D'Antoni, 65, is currently the 76ers associate head coach. He has a 445-426 record as a head coach over 12 NBA season. In his five seasons with the Suns, his teams went 253-136, including two trips to the Western Conference Finals.

If in fact D'Antoni is the front-runner, it would be a complete commitment to the offensive side of the ball with D'Antoni's famous "7 second or less" offense.

While the other candidates that have been discussed, former Rockets head coach Jeff Van Gundy and former Indians Pacers head coach Frank Vogel, are more defensive first focused.

These conflicting reports may speak more to the growing fact that no coach has jumped at the opportunity to coach the Rockets with the volatility of James Harden as the team's top player.

If the ESPN report is correct, the Rockets could have their man within the week. If it's not, the questions around the head coach grow larger.

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