garrick wrote:Our defense would be even worse under D'Antoni and we don't have the type of players that suit his offense so bringing him back would be a huge mistake.
D'Antoni had a much more talented Lakers and Knicks team and still pretty much underachieved in both stints.
Garbage
He did not inherit a talented Knick team or Laker team. That is absolute nonsense. The Lakers looked good on paper but everyone was injured and Kobe along with Gasol wanted no part of Nash and Howard changing the way they did things. It was never going to work. Mike got them as far as anyone could have with the exception of maybe Phil Jackson.
When he took over the Knicks they were loaded with bad players with bad contracts. He was turning them around prior to the Melo acquisition. The Knicks dumped all of the key players to Denver that were part of the turn around Mike made in New York. Melo would not buy in to Mikes philosophy that the ball finds energy. Melo had to have the ball in his hands. The owner supported Melo, Mike walked.
In LA the Lakers were 0 and 8 when he took over and he got them to the playoffs despite injuries to Howard, Nash and Gasol. Kobe went down in the first round of the playoffs, then everyone left while blaming all their problems on MDA. What a joke.
What is amazing is how Gasol thought he was marginalized by D'Antoni. Mike took him away from the basket so Howard would have room to work while putting the ball in Gasol's hands at the top of the key. In that Gasol is a very good passer he thought he could make both Gasol and Howard more productive. I think Mike had it right. What is amazing is that is where the Bulls have put Gasol in their offense and he makes a living shooting and making jumpers from the top of the key. The difference being is that in Chicago Gasol did not have Kobe in his ear. Gasol and Howard also despised each other, watch films. It actually was Kobe and Gasol against any change. It is rumored that Pau will leave the Bulls this off season for Memphis. I expect he will make the sacrifices Mike requested if he plays with his brother. The whole LA scene was really unbelievable. Mike should never have taken that job. I think he did it for Nash and Jerry Buss.
The Lakers have only got worse since Mike left. The Knicks finished off the season that Mike left pretty well but have sucked since. I think the Knicks success was more a result of Melo trying to prove a point while trying to convince everyone that is not an ass clown. Mike and Melo obviously did not like each other. I like Mike's choice of friends. The Knicks still suck.