"Mike D'Antoni took a subtle shot at Jordan Hill Sunday - and accidentally hit Toney Douglas in the crossfire - when he defended his history of playing rookies.

"I don't like to play 'bad' rookies," D'Antoni said. "I like to play 'good' rookies. I think any coach, the same thing. I don't have anything against rookies at all. I like rookies."

Hill was the eighth overall pick of last June's draft but never found consistent minutes in D'Antoni's rotation. Hill was traded to Houston last month in the Tracy McGrady deal. Douglas, also a first-round pick, became a regular in the rotation two weeks ago after being buried for most of the season behind Chris Duhon and Nate Robinson.

"Where exactly does that come from? Seriously," D'Antoni said. "Exactly why don't I love to play rookies? I played Amar'e (Stoudemire). That's something that just cracks me up, 'I don't like to play rookies.' But I do like rookies. I really do. Now if I don't play any rookies next year, that's just the way life, is. But I love Toney Douglas, for example.""