Speaking with Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said that he fully expects D'Antoni to remain the team's coach through the 2013-14 campaign:
After the Los Angeles Lakers rallied to beat the Houston Rockets 99-95 in overtime to clinch the seventh seed in the Western Conference playoffs, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak confirmed that head coach Mike D'Antoni will return next season.
"I think under the circumstances, Mike did a great job. We don't anticipate any kind of a change," Kupchak told ESPNLosAngeles.com.
"No training camp, all the injuries, through the end of the season he's done a great job."
What Kupchak divulged isn't going to sit well with those who continue to feel slighted by the Lakers selecting D'Antoni over the Zen Master earlier this season. His assessment is likely to spur even more of a negative reaction from those who remain convinced that D'Antoni rode Kobe Bryant into the ground.
Still, there is a case to be made for D'Antoni.
Los Angeles was 17-25 to start the season. Magic Mike navigated the team to a 28-12 finish (including a five-game win streak to close out the season) and a playoff berth. Seventh place isn't normally conducive to a $100 million payroll, but given what the Lakers were up against, we must give credit where it is due.
And yes, D'Antoni relied heavily on Kobe, Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol, Steve Nash and Metta World Peace, but isn't that what they were there for?
D'Antoni is not known for utilizing his bench, but we'd be lying if we asserted the Lakers had a bench to use. Who was he supposed to give extensive minutes to outside of Steve Blake, Antawn Jamison, Jodie Meeks and Earl...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
