<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Source: Mike D'Antoni will be the next coach of the Lakers. Not Phil Jackson.</p>— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mike_Bresnahan/status/267894975583375361" data-datetime="2012-11-12T07:41:54+00:00">November 12, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Mike D'Antoni signed a four-year deal with the Lakers. Phil Jackson was "asking for the moon," accoring to source familiar w/ the situation.</p>— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mike_Bresnahan/status/267895361044090880" data-datetime="2012-11-12T07:43:25+00:00">November 12, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Laker spokesman John Black: "Dr. Buss, Jim Buss + Mitch were unanimous that Mike D'Antoni was the best coach for the team at this time."</p>— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mike_Bresnahan/status/267905727346122753" data-datetime="2012-11-12T08:24:37+00:00">November 12, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Mike D'Antoni's Lakers contract is actually three guaranteed years at $12 million. Fourth year is a team option.</p>— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mike_Bresnahan/status/267907394720370690" data-datetime="2012-11-12T08:31:15+00:00">November 12, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
I'm near LA. After hearing the local news of what Phil Jackson was asking for yesterday, I knew it wasnt a FULLY done deal. Thats what negotiations are about But AGAIN, won't trust this until its confirmed for sure. Phil Jackson and Lakers were reportedly gonna meet again tomorrow
So they went from a coach with no clue on how to run an offense to a coach with no clue to how to coach defense.
MDA will be a great fit for the Lakers. I don't get the worries about him coaching D. A healthy Dwight automatically make any team a top 10 defensive team, no matter who the coach is.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Lakers expected to announce hiring Monday morning. Due to pending doctor clearance on knee, its uncertain when D'Antoni will coach 1st game.</p>— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpearsNBAYahoo/status/267903171689582593" data-datetime="2012-11-12T08:14:28+00:00">November 12, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Kobe made it clear he wanted Phil, but said after game tonight that he let Lakers know he was fine with D'Antoni.</p>— J.A. Adande (@jadande) <a href="https://twitter.com/jadande/status/267898403667726337" data-datetime="2012-11-12T07:55:31+00:00">November 12, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Again, as I've written and said on TV, Phil wanted total control and say over the direction of any franchise he went to, a la Riley/Miami.</p>— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) <a href="https://twitter.com/daldridgetnt/status/267904674580025344" data-datetime="2012-11-12T08:20:26+00:00">November 12, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>D'Antoni will get more buy-in from Lakers' stars than Brown did. Brown started losing it last season and never really had it this season</p>— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/status/267907963132452864" data-datetime="2012-11-12T08:33:30+00:00">November 12, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Evidently Jackson was being beyond ridiculous with his contract demands. I'm super happy with D'Antoni, just from a basketball as entertainment standpoint. Phoenix Suns 2.0. Will be amazing to watch.
D'Antoni has been one of the most heavily scrutinized and ridiculed coaches ever. Probably has a lot to do with the obsessive nature of the NY media market. But keep in mind that if Stu Jackson weren't such a toolbag with automatic suspensions, and if Amare Stoudemire hadn't put half a foot onto the court to look out for his teammate, Nash and D'Antoni might very well have rings at this point. It's not like the pair don't win games at the very least. The question is still championships. Do they win championships.
Hah- so I have Nash on my fantasy team, and was trying to package him with a nice big for a top-6 PG. Nobody bit. Thank goodness.
Oh hold on wait a minute. What if Nash's first game back and D'Antoni's first game as head coach is this Friday, when the Lakers host the Suns? lol oh man it would be Shakespearean
