Warriors’ ring ceremony motivation for Rockets

The Rockets will have a front-row seat for the Warriors’ ring ceremony on Tuesday, but were undecided if they would take in the show. Rockets guard James Harden said the team will discuss it and decide, though Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said his inclination would be to stay in the locker room.

 Guard Eric Gordon, who has been on the visiting team when the Celtics and Lakers received championship rings before season openers, said he is more interested in how the night will end than how it will begin.

 “I don’t really like them,” Gordon said of watching ring ceremonies. “You have to watch them get their rings. The crowd’s into it. It’s like their night. We want it to be our night. We want to win. It’s a great opportunity.”

 D’Antoni said he does not have a rule for such occasions, other than preferring to see a ring ceremony with his team receiving the jewelry.

 “My only philosophy is it’s better to be receiving than watching,” D’Antoni said. “We need to be the other team. We’re not going to watch, unless they want to watch. They can watch it on TV back in the locker room. They’ll be fine.”

 Teams have chosen to see the rewards for a championship as a motivation, but D’Antoni said he believed the Rockets have all the motivation they will need.

“We should be motivated,” D’Antoni said. “We want to win a championship. Everybody wants to win a championship. I don’t think you need it. It’s in their DNA. They want to compete and be the best they can be.”

Rockets well represented at ALCS Game 2

The Rockets were well-represented at Minute Maid Park on Saturday with Chris Paul, James Harden, Trevor Ariza, P.J. Tucker, Luc Mbah a Moute on hand for the Astros Game 2 win, giving Paul a reminder for how Houston react to a winner.

“I played here in the playoffs,” Paul said, who lost a Game 7 in Houston when with the Clippers. “I’ve been to a number of baseball games this year. But there’s nothing like the playoffs, especially (in) baseball. The things the city has been through, I think it’s great and we’re going to continue to be there to support those guys.”

Paul posted a video on his Instagram account of Harden screaming, but said, “Everybody was (screaming), though. The energy, the big plays, (Justin) Verlander pitching the nine innings.

“Oh man, that was fun. The energy there is amazing, to see those guys come together is pretty cool.”

http://www.chron.com/sports/rockets/article/Warriors-ring-ceremony-motivation-for-Rockets-12279973.php