Rockets not bringing back defensive guru Bzdelik

The Houston Rockets are not renewing the contract of associate head coach Jeff Bzdelik, one of the architects of the team’s defensive turnaround this past season.

“Jeff’s contract was up. It will not be renewed,” Rockets general manager Daryl Morey told the Houston Chronicle. “We’re looking for any way to improve. That goes for players, coaches, front office, everything.”

Bzdelik, 66, was convinced to come out of retirement in November after the Rockets’ season got off to a rocky start.

Bzdelik started in the NBA 30 years ago as a scout, eventually working for Pat Riley with the New York Knicks and becoming head coach of the Denver Nuggets from 2002 to ’04. He was a college head coach with Air Force, Colorado and Wake Forest.

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