LA Lakers Hire Mike D'Antoni

Jack Brickman said:

Their GM has gone on the record saying that the deal would not have happened if the pick had been protected. The pick being unprotected was literally the only reason that Grant/Gilbert were willing to take on Davis' contract, although ironically Davis also ended up reviving that Cavs season by making the team legitimately watchable again.

Here's the thing that people need to remember: if the rosters don't change, there's no guarantee that pick is number one. The Clippers may have won more or less games with Baron Williams on their roster instead of Mo Williams, and consequently they may have had a different set of lottery numbers. You can't look at the lottery as if it exists in a bubble. It doesn't. That trade drastically altered two teams, and you can't just assume that both would have had the same win/loss record had that trade never happened.

Sure, it's easy to say, "The Clippers traded away the number one pick to save money." The reality is much more complicated than that.

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brownindian said:

Lakers cant even beat a Melo-less Knicks. So what now? Can they qualify for the playoffs?

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RMsDanielGibson said:

If anything, Davis' production hurt the Cavs. If the Cavs lost a few more games at the end of the season, they could've ended up with the top 2 picks instead of 1 and 4. If anything, they could've traded out of the number two spot if they didn't value Derrick Williams that high and draft two guys.

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RMsDanielGibson said:

Melo dropped 30 points. Although he only played 22 minutes, the Lakers still got more Melo than they bargained for.

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Mdog1 said:

Call me in July when Paul and Dwight are playing in Atlanta or Dallas.

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Jon said:

The only thing you can trust is a signature on a contract - and even that not so much (see Love, Kevin).

The situation is fluid, and Dwight is a flake. Who knows what's important to him.

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Mdog1 said:

Well the situation is fluid to say the least, but that's what happens when you trade for a guy that isn't signed long term. The Laker being 9-13 is not a good start, and if they wanted a legitimate shot at an NBA title they'd have to go somewhere around 45-15 the rest of the way, which would give them a 54-28 record, which would be good for a top 3 seed.

The way the Lakers are playing right now they might not even make the playoffs. Interesting stat of the day, 1-11 when Kobe scores 30 or more points.

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Gasol Has More Issue With D'Antoni's System Than Playing With Howard
Dec 19, 2012 11:10 AM EST

Pau Gasol returned to the Los Angeles Lakers' lineup after missing eight games due to knee tendinitis. Gasol had 10 points, nine rebounds, five assists and four blocks in the Lakers' win over the Bobcats.

"I don't find (playing with Howard) tough," Gasol said. "It's more the system right now that makes it tough at times, because (D'Antoni) wants four guys to be spread and one interior guy and it's a guard-oriented system, so that makes it tough.

"I think there's enough looks for both of us. But again, it's not a system that you post up a lot, so we'll see. We've just got to figure it out, but if you've got two great post-up players, you've got to utilize it."

"It's Pau who has to expand his game, and he'll expand out in the corner threes and he needs to take a couple, and we'll get him in the post when we can," D'Antoni said, emphasizing those last three words.

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Jon said:

Their bench is a joke. Maybe they can just use Artest or Jamison as their starting PF, and bring Pau off the bench and run the offense through him in a more traditional offense when he's on the court.

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Mdog1 said:

Wow man I knew he was a bad coach, but seriously you want to go away from a formula that won back to back NBA titles, as in Gasol/Bynum (or in this case Howard) down low as dominant twin towers, and Kobe shot jacking from the perimiter. Good strategy pally. Remind me how many titles D'antoni ball has won, and then tell me how many titles inside out has won...

This team's going to be a laugh in the first round.

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