OFFICIAL: Mike D'Antoni will be the next coach of the Lakers.

[Wilt_The_Stilt]

I think people will come around. Pringles are an acquired taste.

[rayz789]

Originally Posted by Basel

I think we'll be good enough on defense to contend. Let's at least wait a few games before we all think we know everything about what the defense will look like.

If Mike brown who is a far better defensive coach couldnt help the lakers d, what makes you Mike D who dont know what defense means would be better?

[XxIrvingxX]

Originally Posted by Wilt_The_Stilt

I guess you think the Grizz are better than the Heat too.

...why? I wasn't implying that the Mavericks were better than the Lakers.

[King Sancho Fantastic]

@Mike_Bresnahan: Phil Jackson releases a statement: "Saturday morning, Jim Buss, called to ask if he could come and visit. I did ...not solicit or ask for the opportunity, but I welcomed both he and Mitch Kupchak into my home to discuss the possibility of my return to the Lakers as the head coach. We talked for over an hour and a half.

"No contractual terms were discussed and we concluded with a hand shake and an understanding that I would have until Monday (today) to come back to them with my decision. I did convey to them that I did have the confidence that I could do the job.

"I was awakened at midnight on Sunday by a phone call from Mitch Kupchak. He told me that the Lakers had signed Mike D’Antoni to a 3-year agreement and that they felt he was the best coach for the team. The decision is of course theirs to make. I am gratified by the groundswell of support from the Laker Fans who endorsed my return and it is the principal reason why I considered the possibility."

...

[XxIrvingxX]

Originally Posted by King Sancho Fantastic

...

Should've just waited to see what Phil's response was rather than just rush away to Mike. Stupid decision.

[RollWithEm]

Classy statement from Phil.

[Wilt_The_Stilt]

Originally Posted by XxIrvingxX

...why? I wasn't implying that the Mavericks were better than the Lakers.

No you were implying that a single regular season game meant something.

[King Sancho Fantastic]

@ramonashelburne: Phil's agent, Todd Musburger tells ESPNLA: "Don't say you've got until Monday, then roust him at midnight to say, We hired somebody else. That's just not fair dealing and Phil deserved fair dealing. He's a good faith person and he was dealt with poorly. It is indicative of the shabby way that organization is being run. There were no demands, outrageous or otherwise. To say that he wanted control or that he wanted a zillion dollars or that he wanted equity, those were not topics discussed. If Lakers didn't spread those thngs, the fact they didn't take affirmative stance to correct the record is very troublesome. Phil brought nothing but trophies to their bookcase and value to the franchise. He deserved to be dealt w/ honestly""

..

[Wilt_The_Stilt]

And I don't think Phil is telling the whole truth here.

He expects us to believe that the Lakers came to him, he told them he could do it, but then the Lakers pulled the rug out from him before it was finalized? Why would they have done that if he hadn't made some kind of request or demand they didn't find acceptable?

Let me guess Phil, it's because Jim Buss hates you so much, right? Sorry I don't buy that is what happened. My guess is that the Lakers came to him, he wanted some concessions the Lakers weren't willing to give and so they went to D'Antoni. I don't doubt that Jim might have preferred someone other than Phil but I don't think it was some sort of F U to PJ.

[Seuss]

Originally Posted by XxIrvingxX

They couldn't even beat a Dirkless Mavericks WITH a head coach...at home.

So you would take the Mavericks without Dirk to win in a seven game series? I'm talking about playoffs. OKC/SA are the Lakers only threats in the WC.



And the Lakers organization has been making themselves look really bad. If they told Phil he had until Monday to accept or decline, then they hire another coach on Sunday night, that is pretty disrespectful, regardless of the demands that Jackson was making.

Reason why I believe that's actually what occurred is because this is from the same group of people that said Brown had 6 home games to get this team on track, then fired him the next morning.

[Dre]

Dumbass Lakers. It really sunk in that they chose D'Antoni over Phil Jackson. Winning can't be the first priority. Jim and some more bitchass egos.

[rayz789]

Originally Posted by Wilt_The_Stilt

And I don't think Phil is telling the whole truth here.

He expects us to believe that the Lakers came to him, he told them he could do it, but then the Lakers pulled the rug out from him before it was finalized? Why would they have done that if he hadn't made some kind of request or demand they didn't find acceptable?

Let me guess Phil, it's because Jim Buss hates you so much, right? Sorry I don't buy that is what happened. My guess is that the Lakers came to him, he wanted some concessions the Lakers weren't willing to give and so they went to D'Antoni. I don't doubt that Jim might have preferred someone other than Phil but I don't think it was some sort of F U to PJ.

So you believe the lakers front office? Are they the same ppl that say after the lakers embarrassing lost to the jazz that mike brown is not in the hot seat and that him coaching with the lakers is still a go? But yet a day later fired him just like that but you dont believe in phil jackson over the same dumb lakers front office? Lol are you for real?

[Ron]

Originally Posted by Dre

Dumbass Lakers. It really sunk in that they chose D'Antoni over Phil Jackson. Winning can't be the first priority. Jim and some more bitchass egos.

The Lakers handled it poorly, as piss-poorly as they could have handled it.

But I am not sure Jim-boy is the man to blame this time around. It appears Jerry ****ed things up, and kind of threw Mitch under the bus to call him at 12:01 a.m. Monday morning ( ). If I am Mitch Kupchak, I am really wondering if being GM is worth all of the ****ing headaches he has had to deal with the last couple of years.

[Jace]

Not sure this has been posted, but I called it.

@Mike_Bresnahan Phil said to call this Lakers team a championship one is a "misnomer."

Might be a semantical thing. Not sure if he means they haven't won a championship (a little too obvious), or what I believe he means, that they aren't title-caliber.

[rayz789]

I cant believe some actually believe the lakers front office with the bs demands. They the same damn ppl that made it clear that they wont fired mike brown but a day later they fired him just like that. Father and son "buss" are a bunch of bs liars.