"D'Antoni Hopes Formula is Enough to Bring Him a Title" - NBA.COM

Remember, the NBA is not like the NFL. You do *not* have equal practice time for both the offense and the defense. That's what makes defensive-minded coaches so strong on defense, because they devote much more practice to it.

If D'Antoni doesn't give defense much practice time, then he just giving it lip-service (literally) and Bzdelik is just a figure-head.

Also, some offenses aren't as conducive to maximizing defense as others, regardless to the players on the court -- the best example is motion offenses that tend to get the transition defensive out of position.

 

First round exit

 

I'm thinking 35 wins or so