Why are people bashing Jim Buss/Lakers organization for the Laker mess?

[Random_Guy]

So the Lakers acquired Nash/Howard to have a starting lineup of Kobe/Artest/nash/Howard/Pau. Yes it failed terribly and the lakers became a laughing stock, but looking back now, it was a move of genious.
I hate the lakers as much as anyone, but put it this way, suppose the Heat big 3 failed to win any championships, would the organization get the criticisms or the players?
Simply put, imo the lakers are still a great organization, shit just didnt work out. Its true that the ****ed there future up, but imo its more important to win a championship then be years of contender but always falling short.

[red1]

I dont get it either. Its obviously 100% kobe's fault.

[Real Men Wear Green]

Because they could have had Phil Jackson and instead went with a guy that is arguably the worst possible coach to run the kind of slowed-down, inside-out post offense that LA needed to run to get the most out of Gasol and Howard. They had the most big man talent in the league and yet it completely failed to work. Following up that blunder with losing Howard for nothing, handing Kobe Bryant a completely unnecessary retirement bonus and finally stinking it up this season all leads us to believe that Jim Buss is not the right man to be running that organization.

[ZenMaster]

Because they could have had Phil Jackson and instead went with a guy that is arguably the worst possible coach to run the kind of slowed-down, inside-out post offense that LA needed to run to get the most out of Gasol and Howard. They had the most big man talent in the league and yet it completely failed to work. Following up that blunder with losing Howard for nothing, handing Kobe Bryant a completely unnecessary retirement bonus and finally stinking it up this season all leads us to believe that Jim Buss is not the right man to be running that organization.

Dwight couldn't score on offense without turning the ball over, and Pau..well go back and look at his defense at the 4 position last year, Lakers never had a shot because of that dynamic.

[MichaelCorleone]

Kobe's fault.

[Real Men Wear Green]

Dwight couldn't score on offense without turning the ball over, and Pau..well go back and look at his defense at the 4 position last year, Lakers never had a shot because of that dynamic.
And yet we've seen Howard score (he's not great at it but he is capable of getting points) as well as Pau play good d. A truly great coach, which is what a team with the best SG, best center and potential All-Star PF should have, would find a way to make it work. I won't argue the postseason because Bryant was hurt but do you think PJ can only get to the 8th seed with those three talents? Taking D'Antoni over Jackson is an inarguably bad decision.

[ZenMaster]

And yet we've seen Howard score (he's not great at it but he is capable of getting points) as well as Pau play good d. A truly great coach, which is what a team with the best SG, best center and potential All-Star PF should have, would find a way to make it work. I won't argue the postseason because Bryant was hurt but do you think PJ can only get to the 8th seed with those three talents? Taking D'Antoni over Jackson is an inarguably bad decision.

Yeah Howard after he's fully recovered, I knew somebody would say this "well he scores now", but I mean go back and watch games he played last year, it wasn't pretty.

Pau has played good D? Where did this come from? He's playing a bit better on that end yeah but that's because he's guarding other centers, and it's still pretty bad as in guys like Amir Johnson has had career night on him.
Pau guarding Bosh, Aldrige, Dirk, Griffin, Love etc would be just as bad or worse this year as it was last. He can't do it.

[Rooster]

And yet we've seen Howard score (he's not great at it but he is capable of getting points) as well as Pau play good d. A truly great coach, which is what a team with the best SG, best center and potential All-Star PF should have, would find a way to make it work. I won't argue the postseason because Bryant was hurt but do you think PJ can only get to the 8th seed with those three talents? Taking D'Antoni over Jackson is an inarguably bad decision.

This.

D'Antoni was not the right coach for the team. Jim Buss was trying to staple his mark by hiring him instead of Phil because of his personal dislike of the triangle offense but failed miserably. DAntoni system was just not the right fit for the personnel that they have for the team.

[Jameerthefear]

It's a combination of the organization/Kobe's fault.

[Real Men Wear Green]

Yeah Howard after he's fully recovered, I knew somebody would say this "well he scores now", but I mean go back and watch games he played last year, it wasn't pretty.

Pau has played good D? Where did this come from? He's playing a bit better on that end yeah but that's because he's guarding other centers, and it's still pretty bad as in guys like Amir Johnson has had career night on him.
Pau guarding Bosh, Aldrige, Dirk, Griffin, Love etc would be just as bad or worse this year as it was last. He can't do it.
Howard doesn't just "score now," he also scored a lot of points on the Magic. And Gasol has been a solid defender in the past, don't forget he was often the anchor for LA during their last 3 Finals runs. Guys like Dirk Nowitzki give every PF trouble. Regardless it's also undeniable that everyone is a worse defender under D'Antoni as defense is not something he coaches with any kind of real emphasis. That's another major reason why picking him over PJ was crazy. Both Gasol as well as Howard would have been more effective under Jackson as Jackson knows how to use bigs. D'Antoni really doesn't even like to play two true big men at the same time and often doesn't.

Bottom line, do you think the Lakers chose the right guy?

[gts]

Why are people bashing Jim Buss/Lakers organization for the Laker mess?

Because it's the easiest thing to do, people want to lump all problems into one big bowl instead of taking the time to dissect them one at a time

[ZenMaster]

Howard doesn't just "score now," he also scored a lot of points on the Magic. And Gasol has been a solid defender in the past, don't forget he was often the anchor for LA during their last 3 Finals runs. Guys like Dirk Nowitzki give every PF trouble. Regardless it's also undeniable that everyone is a worse defender under D'Antoni as defense is not something he coaches with any kind of real emphasis. That's another major reason why picking him over PJ was crazy. Both Gasol as well as Howard would have been more effective under Jackson as Jackson knows how to use bigs. D'Antoni really doesn't even like to play two true big men at the same time and often doesn't.

Bottom line, do you think the Lakers chose the right guy?

What Howard is doing now and what he did before doesn't matter because he left. His only year in a Laker jersey he wasn't fully recovered, again go back and watch him play whole games last year. He couldn't hold on to the ball when he got it, and couldn't/wouldn't set hard screens because of his back, I can understand that.

As for Pau. Again what he could do years prior doesn't matter because from those years he's gone from being in his prime to being in decline. He will never get back to what he could in 2010, father time always wins out. Pau was never a strong player to begin with as he plays off of skill, him becomming a very bad defender at the tail end of his career is natural because of his physical limitations compared to his peers.
Dirk giving everybody trobule isn't a real argument, he would give Pau a lot more trouble than he would Bosh, maybe not in 2010 but in 2013 and 2014 this is definitely the case.

[Real Men Wear Green]

What Howard is doing now and what he did before doesn't matter because he left. His only year in a Laker jersey he wasn't fully recovered, again go back and watch him play whole games last year. He couldn't hold on to the ball when he got it, and couldn't/wouldn't set hard screens because of his back, I can understand that.

As for Pau. Again what he could do years prior doesn't matter because from those years he's gone from being in his prime to being in decline. He will never get back to what he could in 2010, father time always wins out. Pau was never a strong player to begin with as he plays off of skill, him becomming a very bad defender at the tail end of his career is natural because of his physical limitations compared to his peers.
Dirk giving everybody trobule isn't a real argument, he would give Pau a lot more trouble than he would Bosh, maybe not in 2010 but in 2013 and 2014 this is definitely the case.
You're still not answering the question: Did Buss choose the right coach? D'Antoni has never been a coach that emphasized defense and he is also known for promoting smallball with lineups that only used one big. Jackson would get better d out of the entire team including Gasol and would better utilize Howard on offense even with the injury. There is nothing in D'Antoni's history to suggest he is the kind of coach that will get the most of twin towers, play tough D, and pound it inside. If he's not going to get the most out of his team how is he the best coach for it, especially when we can directly point at PJ as the option?

[longtime lurker]

So the Lakers acquired Nash/Howard to have a starting lineup of Kobe/Artest/nash/Howard/Pau. Yes it failed terribly and the lakers became a laughing stock, but looking back now, it was a move of genious.
I hate the lakers as much as anyone, but put it this way, suppose the Heat big 3 failed to win any championships, would the organization get the criticisms or the players?
Simply put, imo the lakers are still a great organization, shit just didnt work out. Its true that the ****ed there future up, but imo its more important to win a championship then be years of contender but always falling short.

It's obvious Howard was a cancer last season, but then again you have to question how smart it is to trade 3 draft picks for a 38 year old point guard. Hiring D'Antoni was just the nail in the coffin. The team would have probably done better without Howard and Phil at the helm. Nash is a wash, but those draft picks really hurt.

[IGOTGAME]

And yet we've seen Howard score (he's not great at it but he is capable of getting points) as well as Pau play good d. A truly great coach, which is what a team with the best SG, best center and potential All-Star PF should have, would find a way to make it work. I won't argue the postseason because Bryant was hurt but do you think PJ can only get to the 8th seed with those three talents? Taking D'Antoni over Jackson is an inarguably bad decision.

Let's not forget how Mike D ran Kobe in the ground for a 8th seed. Kobe would still be a top 5 player but for Mike D.

[ZenMaster]

You're still not answering the question: Did Buss choose the right coach? D'Antoni has never been a coach that emphasized defense and he is also known for promoting smallball with lineups that only used one big. Jackson would get better d out of the entire team including Gasol and would better utilize Howard on offense even with the injury. There is nothing in D'Antoni's history to suggest he is the kind of coach that will get the most of twin towers, play tough D, and pound it inside. If he's not going to get the most out of his team how is he the best coach for it, especially when we can directly point at PJ as the option?

I didn't think D'Antoni was a bad fit for that team, talking about Phil saying he would have forced the ball more inside wouldn't have made Dwights back any better, or Pau any better at guarding players he physically can't.
Plus they did not run anything close to the Phoenix system, there was a lot of flex and stuff in there they had to do because Howard didn't want pickn'roll.

Also, I don't want to speculate on how they practice offense and defense. Lakers weren't good on D with Brown and he was supposed to be a good defensive coach.
Pau was very bad defensively last year for reason I've already explained, Kobe played the most sloppy off ball defense we've ever seen from him and Dwight was never fully healthy.
In the last years with Phil and the one year with Brown Lakers where known as a team people would run against because of lack of athleticism and being old, last season that stuff went over the top along with all the injuries.

[Real Men Wear Green]

I didn't think D'Antoni was a bad fit for that team, talking about Phil saying he would have forced the ball more inside wouldn't have made Dwights back any better, or Pau any better at guarding players he physically can't.
Plus they did not run anything close to the Phoenix system, there was a lot of flex and stuff in there they had to do because Howard didn't want pickn'roll.

Also, I don't want to speculate on how they practice offense and defense. Lakers weren't good on D with Brown and he was supposed to be a good defensive coach.
Pau was very bad defensively last year for reason I've already explained, Kobe played the most sloppy off ball defense we've ever seen from him and Dwight was never fully healthy.
In the last years with Phil and the one year with Brown Lakers where known as a team people would run against because of lack of athleticism and being old, last season that stuff went over the top along with all the injuries.
When everyone is lapsing on D doesn't that point at the coach? Especially one that is known for porous defenses?

[ZenMaster]

When everyone is lapsing on D doesn't that point at the coach? Especially one that is known for porous defenses?

Brown was the coach before D'Antoni and he's supposedly one of the best defensive coaches in the league, he had a complete training camp to get this team where it needed to be yet they didn't look like a good defensive team before D'Antoni took over.

That fact, along with what I know, ie Pau being old and out of position, Howard still not healthy and Kobe sloppy(probably saving energy because of age) would lead me to believe it's not the coaches fault for them playing bad D. Didn't matter who the coach was.

Now they where supposed to be a very good offensive team, but they where always hurt and I think most importan Nash broke his leg very early in the season.

[Yao Ming's Foot]

When everyone is lapsing on D doesn't that point at the coach? Especially one that is known for porous defenses?

You realize Phil Jackson was the coach for this series right?

http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_2011_WCS.html

DAT TWIN TOWER OFFENSE/DEFENSE

[Real Men Wear Green]

Brown was the coach before D'Antoni and he's supposedly one of the best defensive coaches in the league, he had a complete training camp to get this team where it needed to be yet they didn't look like a good defensive team before D'Antoni took over.

That fact, along with what I know, ie Pau being old and out of position, Howard still not healthy and Kobe sloppy(probably saving energy because of age) would lead me to believe it's not the coaches fault for them playing good D. Didn't matter what the coach was.

Now they where supposed to be a very good offensive team, but they where always hurt and I think most importan Nash broke his leg very early in the season.
When you have to find an excuse for every player being subpar there is a fundamental problem. At best D'Antoni isn't the problem. That's the absolute nicest thing that can be said about him. You certainly can't say he's the solution and there is a far stronger case to be made that his defense and inability to use bigs are major issues than that his presence has improved anything. Just because he's done about as bad a job as Mike Brown would have is nothing to be satisfied with, not when you are handed a roster with championship aspirations like LA had last year. There is absolutely no way that he should have been picked over Jackson. You yourself haven't even gone that far and you're the one arguing for him.

[Real Men Wear Green]

You realize Phil Jackson was the coach for this series right?

http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_2011_WCS.html

DAT TWIN TOWER OFFENSE/DEFENSE
He also guided the Lakers to 2 Championships with Bynum and Gasol starting side-by-side. That's a rather large inconvenient truth for you to be ignoring.

[Yao Ming's Foot]

He also guided the Lakers to 2 Championships with Bynum and Gasol starting side-by-side. That's a rather large inconvenient truth for you to be ignoring.

Where were Bynum's stats in the playoffs for those 2 championships? Please enlighten me....

[ZenMaster]

When you have to find an excuse for every player being subpar there is a fundamental problem. At best D'Antoni isn't the problem. That's the absolute nicest thing that can be said about him. You certainly can't say he's the solution and there is a far stronger case to be made that his defense and inability to use bigs are major issues than that his presence has improved anything. Just because he's done about as bad a job as Mike Brown would have is nothing to be satisfied with, not when you are handed a roster with championship aspirations like LA had last year. There is absolutely no way that he should have been picked over Jackson. You yourself haven't even gone that far and you're the one arguing for him.

You call it excuses but I call it reasoning, and we're hardly talking about the whole roster but more like 3 players.

But again, if the Lakers last year had so much defensive potential why weren't they a good defensive team with Mike Brown? Did he magically lose his ability to coach defense that summer?

Don't matter who the coach was last year, Lakers where doing nothing with all the injuries.

[Real Men Wear Green]

You call it excuses but I call it reasoning, and we're hardly talking about the whole roster but more like 3 players.

But again, if the Lakers last year had so much defensive potential why weren't they a good defensive team with Mike Brown? Did he magically lose his ability to coach defense that summer?

Don't matter who the coach was last year, Lakers where doing nothing with all the injuries.
In Bryant, Gasol and Howard we're not just talking about three players, we're talking about the three most important players. We can also discuss guys like Ron Artest but the way I see it as a guy that is mainly about d and not particularly good for spreading the floor he's just another guy that didn't fit what LA wanted to do. I mean, how deep into the roster do you want to go? To be honest I'm not the type to pay attention to the third-string pg if we're not talking about the Celtics.

And again: You still won't say that taking D'Antoni over PJ was the right thing to do.
Where were Bynum's stats in the playoffs for those 2 championships? Please enlighten me....
8 and 7 one year, 6 and 4 the other. Of course you don't want to talk about the regular season, where he averaged double-doubles.

[Yao Ming's Foot]

8 and 7 one year, 6 and 4 the other. Of course you don't want to talk about the regular season, where he averaged double-doubles.

What does the regular season have to do with winning in the playoffs?

[ZenMaster]

In Bryant, Gasol and Howard we're not just talking about three players, we're talking about the three most important players. We can also discuss guys like Ron Artest but the way I see it as a guy that is mainly about d and not particularly good for spreading the floor he's just another guy that didn't fit what LA wanted to do. I mean, how deep into the roster do you want to go? To be honest I'm not the type to pay attention to the third-string pg if we're not talking about the Celtics.

And again: You still won't say that taking D'Antoni over PJ was the right thing to do.
8 and 7 one year, 6 and 4 the other. Of course you don't want to talk about the regular season, where he averaged double-doubles.

They are 3 players who for individual reason that I've explained each didn't live up to the expectations. Injuries, physical decline playing out of position etc.
On top of that the whole team was getting injured at different times which made the whole thing impossible, thus they imploded.

[Real Men Wear Green]

What does the regular season have to do with winning in the playoffs?
Seeding and home court advantage. Now are you seriously going to argue Jackson didn't show he can work with two big men?

[AnaheimLakers24]

old news.

[Real Men Wear Green]

They are 3 players who for individual reason that I've explained each didn't live up to the expectations. Injuries, physical decline playing out of position etc.
On top of that the whole team was getting injured at different times which made the whole thing impossible, thus they imploded.
So everyone had an excuse. But nowhere do we see how D'Antoni made anything better. The only thing he's done since he got there was feud with Hasol. You still won't even say that LA made the right decision. Why even argue?

[Yao Ming's Foot]

Seeding and home court advantage. Now are you seriously going to argue Jackson didn't show he can work with two big men?

:oldlol:

That's a hell of a stretch. He showed he can work with Gasol/Odom and Bynum/Odom more so than Bynum/Gasol. Beyond that an older Gasol and Howard with his lesser post moves is even less of a slam dunk pairing. Phil Jackson could dig up Red Auerbach from the grave to be his head assistant and these Lakers post 2012 would still be going nowhere.

[ZenMaster]

So everyone had an excuse. But nowhere do we see how D'Antoni made anything better. The only thing he's done since he got there was feud with Hasol. You still won't even say that LA made the right decision. Why even argue?

How are we supposed to know what he made better than somebody else would have done? The whole season was a failure and it's from that stance we're arguing. Your question is impossible to answer.

I though this year before everybody got injured Lakers had some of the best chemistry in the league, the team was very resilient and generally performing better than they where supposed to at around the .500 mark.

I thought the decision was right, had to move on from Phil who by the way looked done coaching in his last year.

[Kiddlovesnets]

'cause people jump to conclusion way too quickly.

[smoovegittar]

i think they should have watched a little tape of D'Antoni coaching the Knicks. He was THAT awful. Thinking they could have paired him up with an aging Nash doidn't seem too smart to me. But it seems as tho they have a lot of little problems...

[Real Men Wear Green]

:oldlol:

That's a hell of a stretch. He showed he can work with Gasol/Odom and Bynum/Odom more so than Bynum/Gasol. The fact that Odom was a good player doesn't mean Gasol/Bynum didn't work. Gasol got the most pt while Odom and a young Bynum where about equal. You are acting like having a good reserve somehow proves the starters weren't effective.
How are we supposed to know what he made better than somebody else would have done? The whole season was a failure and it's from that stance we're arguing. Your question is impossible to answer.The fact that it was such a colossal failure at the least proves that D'Antoni didn't do a great coaching job. He was put in charge of a roster full of players that weren't his type and they proceeded to underachieve. There is no sign of good coaching here, just some excuses for failure.


I though this year before everybody got injured Lakers had some of the best chemistry in the league, the team was very resilient and generally performing better than they where supposed to at around the .500 mark.Well what they are is possibly the worst Laker team in decades.


I thought the decision was right, had to move on from Phil who by the way looked done coaching in his last year.
I obviously disagree but at least you answered the question.

[red1]

As a huge basketball and laker fan it just hurts me to watch kobe's selfishness and little jimmy's incompetence ruin what was once a great franchise. As someone wisely pointed out, the moment dr buss passed away so did the laker's championship hopes.

[red1]

http://a0.img.mobypicture.com/9c3decc68e9d20b32e968a2a641c9f88_view.jpg

[ZenMaster]

The fact that Odom was a good player doesn't mean Gasol/Bynum didn't work. Gasol got the most pt while Odom and a young Bynum where about equal. You are acting like having a good reserve somehow proves the starters weren't effective.The fact that it was such a colossal failure at the least proves that D'Antoni didn't do a great coaching job. He was put in charge of a roster full of players that weren't his type and they proceeded to underachieve. There is no sign of good coaching here, just some excuses for failure.

Well what they are is possibly the worst Laker team in decades.


I obviously disagree but at least you answered the question.

I won't comment if he did a good job or not, considering all the injuries it's impossible to judge.
I've coached enough teams myself to know that a team can implode because of stuff you can't control, and the Lakers last year was out of control.

Right now with the deliberate tank you're right they suck, but earlier before everybody went down they where actually a fun team to watch and follow.
Just had to limit the expectations and realize Pau isn't 2010 Pau anymore.

[Yao Ming's Foot]

The fact that Odom was a good player doesn't mean Gasol/Bynum didn't work. Gasol got the most pt while Odom and a young Bynum where about equal. You are acting like having a good reserve somehow proves the starters weren't effective..

No I'm acting like Phil Jackson closed out games with Gasol and Odom rather than the twin towers and that Bynum was little more than a role player en route to 2 championships.

But somehow he's going to turn two guys even less suited to play together into something more than what they were under Brown/D'antoni? :confusedshrug:

[D.J.]

He goes out and acquires Nash and Dwight. Ok, fine. But he hires the worst possible coach for the style these guys need in order to succeed. The coach then works Kobe into the f*cking ground and giving him a career shortening injury in the process. They then lose Dwight for nothing in the offseason, and Kobe suffers another serious injury(likely ending his career). So surely, you can see why Buss and the front office is getting all the blame.

[longtime lurker]

He goes out and acquires Nash and Dwight. Ok, fine. But he hires the worst possible coach for the style these guys need in order to succeed. The coach then works Kobe into the f*cking ground and giving him a career shortening injury in the process. They then lose Dwight for nothing in the offseason, and Kobe suffers another serious injury(likely ending his career). So surely, you can see why Buss and the front office is getting all the blame.

That move was made for Nash, but mostly Jimmy's ego.

[Kiddlovesnets]

He goes out and acquires Nash and Dwight. Ok, fine. But he hires the worst possible coach for the style these guys need in order to succeed. The coach then works Kobe into the f*cking ground and giving him a career shortening injury in the process. They then lose Dwight for nothing in the offseason, and Kobe suffers another serious injury(likely ending his career). So surely, you can see why Buss and the front office is getting all the blame.

Kobe's injury was unpredictable, though clearly he was 35-36 years old so its possible for serious injury to happen for him.

[D.J.]

That move was made for Nash, but mostly Jimmy's ego.


Doesn't matter what the reason was. It was a poor choice, regardless of who wanted it more. That would be like putting Tom Thibodeau on the Suns 6-7 years ago.

[D.J.]

Kobe's injury was unpredictable, though clearly he was 35-36 years old so its possible for serious injury to happen for him.


It was a freak injury, but taking a 35 year old player and playing him 42-43 MPG for a pretty good stretch was not at all a good move.

[Kiddlovesnets]

It was a freak injury, but taking a 35 year old player and playing him 42-43 MPG for a pretty good stretch was not at all a good move.

You know its Kobe, even if the coach wanted to bench him for 10-15 mins per game he aint gonna like it. Instead, it would make Kobe mad and get the coach fired. It was not D'Antoni's fault, what else could he do?

[outbreak]

Because Dwight did everything in his powers including waiving his opt out clause to avoid being sent to l.a yet they still traded for him and signing a coach who in no way suited their roster. If another franchise did this ish would making fun of them constantly

[longtime lurker]

Doesn't matter what the reason was. It was a poor choice, regardless of who wanted it more. That would be like putting Tom Thibodeau on the Suns 6-7 years ago.

I don't disagree, especially when the other option is Phil Jackson. But I guess the Lakers believed D'Antoni would capture the Magic of old Nash.


Because Dwight did everything in his powers including waiving his opt out clause to avoid being sent to l.a yet they still traded for him and signing a coach who in no way suited their roster. If another franchise did this ish would making fun of them constantly

Dwight could have acted professionally and played his contract out instead of becoming a chemistry killing, whiny diva. But I guess the signs were there from his last days in Orlando.

[RoundMoundOfReb]

It's no one's "fault". Nothing is really wrong with the Lakers. They had a great team - won 2 championships and now their players got old and they're rebuilding. Circle of life for an NBA team. Would someone say the Celtics are a mess?

[gts]

It's no one's "fault". Nothing is really wrong with the Lakers. They had a great team - won 2 championships and now their players got old and they're rebuilding. Circle of life for an NBA team. Would someone say the Celtics are a mess?

That's the thing people overlook... there's a price to be paid for winning like the lakers did for basically a decade...

You can't just keep it going forever, people wear down, not just players but coach's scouts the front office everyone wears down when an organization puts that much effort into winning it all every single year...

Then look at the other owners, they wear down from trying to keep up, with all the big money teams so they impose draconian rules on the big spenders in the form of that radical CBA.

Then add in a few hiccups like the CP3 trade being blocked which had bigger ramifications than just not getting CP3, then Jerry Buss's passing away and the injuries the last two years and it's completely understandable why the team is stumbling for a couple seasons.

I mean this season alone.. people are calling out D'Antoni for things but when you look at the injuries and how they've effected the team you cant say either way...

I was talking to a long time high school coach about this topic a couple weeks ago and he said Laker fans think D'Antoni has done a lousy job but most coach's will tell you he's done a commendable job just keep these guys smiling and coming to play under the circumstances.

I think it's probably somewhere in between, I'm certainly not going to judge him on this season.