Mike D'Antoni doesn't coach Sunday

Mike D'Antoni did not coach the Los Angeles Lakers' game Sunday against the Houston Rockets. D'Antoni delayed his debut as the 24th coach in Lakers franchise history because he is not fully recovered from recent knee replacement surgery.
"I'm a little disappointed, I wanted to be on the bench," D'Antoni told reporters before the game. "After talking with (Lakers trainer) Gary Vitti ... he convinced me a little bit not to do it."
D'Antoni plans to make his Lakers debut Tuesday at home against Brooklyn, a source close to the coach told ESPN.
Lakers spokesman John Black said a combination of pain, fatigue and the medication D'Antoni is taking caused the coach to opt out of the game late Sunday afternoon. Lack of mobility was also a concern, according to Black, as D'Antoni could potentially face a situation where he would have to avoid a player careening toward the sideline.
"The biggest problem I have is just energy kind of waning toward the end (of the game)," D'Antoni said.
D'Antoni is day to day, according to Black. The Lakers play a back-to-back starting with the Nets and then traveling to Sacramento on Wednesday.
"I do get practices OK and all that's good, the next step will be a game," D'Antoni said. "That can be Tuesday, that can be Wednesday, I don't know yet but with Gary, we'll figure it out."
Bernie Bickerstaff resumed his role as interim head coach. With Sunday night's 119-108 win over Hoston, Bickerstaff is 4-1 since taking over for the fired Mike Brown.
D'Antoni told reporters before the game that Bickerstaff would remain on his staff for the remainder of the season.
"That's nice to know," Bickerstaff said, when informed of D'Antoni's plans to keep him as an assistant coach.
The Lakers also announced the hiring of Dan D'Antoni -- Mike's older brother -- as an assistant coach.

Dan D'Antoni joins the team after spending the past four seasons as an assistant on his brother's staff with the New York Knicks.
Mike D'Antoni planned to watch the game from the bowels of Staples Center while receiving treatment on his knee in the trainer's room with "the Steves" -- Steve Blake (strained abdomen) and Steve Nash (fractured fibula), who are also out. The 61-year-old coach said he would address the team pregame, at halftime and postgame, but trust Bickerstaff with all of his in-game decisions.
"I think he and Steve Nash are waiting to make their debut together," Bickerstaff said jokingly.
For more information go to ESPN.com.

James Harden Says He Will Sign Extension with Houston Rockets Before Deadline

James Harden is all in with the Houston Rockets, and the star shooting guard plans to stay with the team long-term.
The Oklahoma City Thunder traded the reigning Sixth Man of the Year to the Rockets on Saturday in exchange for guards Kevin Martin and Jeremy Lamb, two first-round picks and a second-round pick, as reported by ESPN.
Today, Harden was asked if he planned on signing an extension in Houston (via NBA.com), and he responded, “Yes. Yes I do. I’ll let them figure that out with my agent. My focus right now is Houston and how I can make them better. … I feel like I can help build it and bring my talents over here.”
ESPN’s report notes that the Thunder attempted to extend Harden’s contract, but the 23-year-old was unwilling to accept the team’s offer of $55.5 million over four years, which is less than a maximum contract. The post also states that Houston plans to offer Harden a max deal.
Harden is entering his fourth NBA season and is coming off his most productive year. He averaged 16.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game while shooting 49.1 percent from the field and 39.0 percent from three-point range. All of those marks were career highs.
After Harden emerged as one of the most potent scoring guards in the NBA, speculation started that the small-market Thunder would have to break up their young core of stars, as they would be unable to afford Harden, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka.
This is exactly how the situation has played out, and now Harden will try to prove with Houston that he is capable of being equally as dangerous in a starting role as he was coming off the bench.