NBA · dantoni new coach of Lakers (page 1)

Caseloads @ 11/12/2012 3:24 AM
Wow
JamesKPolk @ 11/12/2012 3:35 AM
I'm happy for Pringles.

Of course I hope he fails miserably because I hate the Lakers but I am happy for him.

JamesKPolk @ 11/12/2012 3:35 AM
Also,
Mray20 @ 11/12/2012 3:43 AM
Lakers vs Knicks Christmas should be very interesting, The Lakers signed him for 4 years lol did they not see his 4 year stint in NY.
nixluva @ 11/12/2012 3:56 AM
I knew this was gonna happen. I figured that the Laker brass didn't want to give Phil the level of power he wanted and that they'd move on to MDA. He'll be cheaper and won't demand any power other than coach. It was about the best they could do, cuz I was hearing Phil wanted a lot of money, power and freedom to miss games if he wanted. MDA has relationships with most of the best players in the league already.

I'm not sure how the Laker fans will take this news given that they really wanted Phil, but it all depends on how the Laker brass paints the story. I think the Lakers brass really didn't want to have to bow to Phil again. The team winning a couple of games has allowed them to not be as desperate as they started off looking.

NY Fans have to understand that those in the West don't have the lack of respect for D'Antoni that so many in the media and NY area fans do. Those teams have respect for a man that was giving them hell in the West with small teams. They don't forget the wars that took place over the years.

Sources confirmed a Los Angeles Times report that D'Antoni quickly agreed to coach the Lakers after L.A.'s weekend of negotiations to bring back Phil Jackson broke down.

It had been widely anticipated that the Lakers would be bringing back Jackson after deciding to oust Brown just five games into the regular season, but sources said that the Lakers ultimately couldn't stomach Jackson's contract demands to return, which were believed to include a salary ranging from $10 to 15 million annually, significant say in personnel decisions as well as his eventual replacement along with the ability for the 67-year-old to skip selected road games.

Sources indicate that the deal was consummated very quickly late Sunday night towards the end of the Lakers win over Sacramento.

D'Antoni, who had knee surgery at the beginning of November, hasn't yet been cleared to travel, according to sources and "it'll be a couple of days before he comes in, but he's further along than people believe."

Lakers point guard Steve Nash said earlier Sunday he would be elated if he were reunited with his old Suns coach in D'Antoni.

"Obviously I think everyone knows how much I love Mike," Nash said. "If (D'Antoni) were to coach, it would be seamless and terrific for me, and I think the team as well."

Syniko @ 11/12/2012 4:34 AM
I'm so happy for Coach D'Antoni. He's got a coaching gig again on one of the biggest stage in the NBA with one of the most storied franchise. I could already tell he's smiling his mouth off.

Reunited with Nash and also, getting to coach Kobe for the time. Nice.

smackeddog @ 11/12/2012 5:01 AM
Wow! Really didn't think he'd get it. Not sure if it's a good fit for him either- problems with the Lakers so far have been that they're too slow and their defense has been poor. Not sure if D'Antoni's system and yells of "Let's go, Let's go!" will help much, or can be effective with the speed of that team. Maybe if they traded Pau Gasol for Amar'e, it might be a bit more workable, but they need to get a bit more youth in there regardless.

At least Chris Duhon will be happy. Jordan Hill- not so much.

It'll be interesting to see if he can make it work, but I'm not convinced.

alexs @ 11/12/2012 5:14 AM
trade Amare for Gasol alraedy
CashMoney @ 11/12/2012 5:16 AM
WOW! It's going to be interesting to say the least.
Anji @ 11/12/2012 5:18 AM
alexs wrote:trade Amare for Gasol alraedy

Gasol is getting traded, but probably for a big three or big two. Gasol and Dwight won't work for MDA.

Ira @ 11/12/2012 5:23 AM
I second Wow!
sidsanders @ 11/12/2012 5:40 AM
big question, will hill start rackin up dnp's again??
ShellTopAdidas @ 11/12/2012 6:09 AM
Contrary to what a lot of ppl on here think, MDA is a good coach. Congrats coach!
earthmansurfer @ 11/12/2012 6:11 AM
I like to watch D'Antoni's style of basketball. I think it can be successful under the right circumstances - the right personnel that is. I am mixed on the Lakers, players wise. They for sure have some major talent. But they don't see to be an ideal fit - not a deep bench, an excessively ISO player (at times) in Kobe, a non shooting center, etc.

D'Antoni is creative, though stubborn, so it will be interesting to see what he does there and how or if he adapts. I will definitely keep more of an eye on LA now that he is there. And wouldn't it be sweet to beat them for the championship...

knicks1248 @ 11/12/2012 6:54 AM
earthmansurfer wrote:I like to watch D'Antoni's style of basketball. I think it can be successful under the right circumstances - the right personnel that is. I am mixed on the Lakers, players wise. They for sure have some major talent. But they don't see to be an ideal fit - not a deep bench, an excessively ISO player (at times) in Kobe, a non shooting center, etc.

D'Antoni is creative, though stubborn, so it will be interesting to see what he does there and how or if he adapts. I will definitely keep more of an eye on LA now that he is there. And wouldn't it be sweet to beat them for the championship...


Would love that to happen, but I just don't see that roster jelling rather quickly..

nash together again with mda..I see and gasol for amare trade coming soon

babyKnicks @ 11/12/2012 7:40 AM
I love amare, I'm a mda fan, just thought he sucked here...he will be great in LA.

Amare for gasol? I would be devastated and elated at the same time.

Win win for everyone.

Now we can stop talking about mods and nixluva can root for Houston and the lakers and stop crying about those two sucking in NYC,

Nalod @ 11/12/2012 8:21 AM
Kobe's childhood hero. Wore #8 in honor of .

Jax did not want to coach all road games. Ask for 12mil a year, not go to all games, have personal powers and pick the successor? Not to say he don't got that kind of cred but Jimmy Buss was happy to get rid of him for these reasons.

MDA I guess still has the Elite cred.

It makes for interesting games!

dk7th @ 11/12/2012 8:24 AM
i like the karmic implications of this hire. d'antoni really was a good soldier and professional while here and essentially got shafted (along with walsh) by dolan.

regardless of how you feel about his coaching, he never had the type of squad that was reflective of his ethos in new york. now in los angeles he finally does.

Nalod @ 11/12/2012 8:28 AM
It was fun to see MDA make use of players that we did not think were as good. Extra "E", Novak, Lando, Lin, all did very well. Of course if your not his kind of player you sat.

Lakes Bench is kind of thin. He got the gig because he has a vision. I guess Phil Weber goes HollyWood now!

ChuckBuck @ 11/12/2012 8:31 AM
Kinda of a joke hire, but I guess you gotta make due with Nash's last good year or 2. Howard and Gasol will get in each other's way in his offense.

Phil Jackson's ego must feel butt hurt, since he thought he had it in the bag.

fishmike @ 11/12/2012 8:41 AM
dk7th wrote:i like the karmic implications of this hire. d'antoni really was a good soldier and professional while here and essentially got shafted (along with walsh) by dolan.

regardless of how you feel about his coaching, he never had the type of squad that was reflective of his ethos in new york. now in los angeles he finally does.

this.. I love how the dude made Chris Duhon look like a stud and people cried because the Knicks didnt defend. Highlarious. People will quickly see the problem was never MDA, it was the Knicks and their players. Of course they were playing pretty well until a certain trade happened, but water under the bridge. After the donkees we had here MDA was refreshing and he will do a great job with the Lakers.
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