Lakers hire D'antoni

[oragator1]

Per the bottom line.

Guess Phil said no or asked for too much?

Nash will be happy though.

[Juggernautz]

Most of the Lakers seem to favor him over Phil.

[corpgator]

His offense is better for what the Lakers have than the triangle. The pick and roll with Nash and Howard are going to be deadly on offense. Nash was already the best PnR PG and Howard the best big man, them together, scary.

The problem is, the Lakers were sitting at top 5 on offense already, and it was defense that was killing them. Some of that will get better as Howard works his way back into game shape, but hiring D'Antoni will not help at all.

[Singaporegator]

Been a Laker fan for over 30 years. My kids grew up with the "Showtime" Lakers.
But they live in NYC now so maybe I will start rooting for Brooklyn, or maybe the Spurs.
This is a bad decision and has Jim Buss' fingerprints all over it. Well, its his (or at least his Dad's) team so he can do whatever he wants but passing on the greatest coach of all time because you are jealous of the attention?

[ThePlayer]

Can't wait for the Fakers to Fuk up.

[Singaporegator]

Can't wait for the Fakers to Fuk up.

They already did. Here's why: http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-plaschke-lakers-dantoni-20121112,0,2305319.column

[corpgator]

Apparently, Phil was ready to take the job.

[gatordd]

Terrible decision. Team already played zero defense. Run and gun with that old of a team? I can't wait to watch this implode...

[jcp]

Mistake.

[LeafUF]

Is a checked out Phil with nothing left to prove really that much better than a coach like D'Antoni who is looking to restore his reputation?

My guess here is that Phil has been checked out and happy in retirement and that he probably asked for a lot from the Lakers to get him back on the sideline.

I think this could work for them. They need help on offense pretty badly and Howard may actually help provide more defense than D'Antoni has ever had.

[rserina]

His offense is better for what the Lakers have than the triangle. The pick and roll with Nash and Howard are going to be deadly on offense. Nash was already the best PnR PG and Howard the best big man, them together, scary.

The problem is, the Lakers were sitting at top 5 on offense already, and it was defense that was killing them. Some of that will get better as Howard works his way back into game shape, but hiring D'Antoni will not help at all.
I think is pretty darn accurate. Gasol is pretty stout on the pick and roll, too. Bryant is something of a fish out of water, but he save himself for the fourth quarter and run a bunch of isos, as the whole SSOL system has always really struggled closing out tight games down the stretch. A healthy, rested Bryant can help there.

But I agree that defensively the only upgrade they have made in the last three years was Howard. Bryant used to be solid, but less so now. Nash is terrible and Gasol isn't very good, either. The wing formerly known as Artest can still kill post up wings, but not pick and roll or catch and shoot guys. They've lost Fisher, Shannon Brown, and Matt Barnes, all solid defenders, and replaced them guys like Jordan Hill, who doesn't know where he is on the court half the time. Jamison is now two steps to slow for the three and one step too slow for the four. Unless they can find a way to add a good perimeter defender to that roster, I don't see how they can beat Oklahoma City or Miami, and I wonder how they will do against San Antonio and the Clippers.

[gatordee]

Why di I get the feeling that someones ego played a part in this decision? And I am not talking about Phil. Well the Heat are relieved.

[corpgator]

Phil Jackson belongs in New York.

[jeffphillips21]

Yeah at first I was shocked. Phil Jackson was reportedly asking for a huge salary (obviously) and wanted travel restrictions ie wouldn't have to travel for every away game. I think the owners probably said screw it, can't work like that so took the next best option (or close). I think with Howard, World Peace, Kobe and Gasol they have enough good defenders, they need to learn how to exploit their opponents offensively. For that reason I think D'Antoni is a good hire...and Nash knows and thrives in his system. If nothing else they'll be more fun to watch.

[Gator8239]

Lakers can't just keep going back to the Phil Jackson well. I think part of this is they need to prove they can win without him, something they have not really been able to do.

[born2beagator]

Yeah at first I was shocked. Phil Jackson was reportedly asking for a huge salary (obviously) and wanted travel restrictions ie wouldn't have to travel for every away game. I think the owners probably said screw it, can't work like that so took the next best option (or close). I think with Howard, Artest, Kobe and Gasol they have enough good defenders, they need to learn how to exploit their opponents offensively. For that reason I think D'Antoni is a good hire...and Nash knows and thrives in his system. If nothing else they'll be more fun to watch.

I refuse to acknowledge his ego, legal change or not.