Mike D'Antoni Resigns as Lakers Head Coach

[EmpireWF]

Assume the team was firm in not picking up his '15-'16 option, so he chose to walk away.

A D'Antoni-led team has still not made the playoffs in consecutive seasons since Phoenix.

Stevesta, who's the next man up for the Lakers?

[ram29jackson]

well well well

[ralaw]

Bout' time!! He is who I thought he was. I must say the roster is turrible, which didn't help, but I've never been a fan of his style.

[NAHSTE]

Not sure who would want this gig.

[EmpireWF]

Bulls have given LA permission to talk with Thibs.

[stevsta]

It is a crap-shoot right now as to who will take over. The job itself still holds some prestige (hopefully), but the situation is bad.

My hope is that it is going to be a long courting period, not resolving itself until closer to the draft. The Laker's need to take their time and not rush into anything. My top 3 picks to take over would be Coach K, Byron Scott, and finally Calipari.

[Argath]

It is a crap-shoot right now as to who will take over. The job itself still holds some prestige (hopefully), but the situation is bad.

My hope is that it is going to be a long courting period, not resolving itself until closer to the draft. The Laker's need to take their time and not rush into anything. My top 3 picks to take over would be Coach K, Byron Scott, and finally Calipari.

[Pala]

D'Antoni's had some bad luck with management in recent years - however, he's a stubborn a coach as you will find in the NBA and refuses to change any facet of his style regardless of the situation. The Lakers job was never a good fit for him, an ailing Nash and a post-centric Kobe/Pau duo is practically the antithesis of his style of tempo-pushing basketball. When Dwight refused to run any semblance of a pick and roll attack, D'Antoni was as good as gone.

As far as New York, let's be honest, the Carmelo-D'Antoni pairing was never going to work without a healthy Stoudemire to take the 4 spot. He's a good head coach who needs to win with guys who fit his style, otherwise he'll flop entirely. Could make a great lead assistant (a la Nate McMillan) but very well could remain unemployed.

An unfortunate ending for a guy who could've had a much different career had he just stayed in Phoenix for a few more years. Nevertheless, he still revolutionized the NBA, there's no intelligent way to deny his importance to the advancement of the game whether you appreciate his style or not.

[ram29jackson]

D'Antoni's had some bad luck with management in recent years - however, he's a stubborn a coach as you will find in the NBA and refuses to change any facet of his style regardless of the situation. The Lakers job was never a good fit for him, an ailing Nash and a post-centric Kobe/Pau duo is practically the antithesis of his style of tempo-pushing basketball. When Dwight refused to run any semblance of a pick and roll attack, D'Antoni was as good as gone.

As far as New York, let's be honest, the Carmelo-D'Antoni pairing was never going to work without a healthy Stoudemire to take the 4 spot. He's a good head coach who needs to win with guys who fit his style, otherwise he'll flop entirely. Could make a great lead assistant (a la Nate McMillan) but very well could remain unemployed.

An unfortunate ending for a guy who could've had a much different career had he just stayed in Phoenix for a few more years. Nevertheless, he still revolutionized the NBA, there's no intelligent way to deny his importance to the advancement of the game whether you appreciate his style or not.

all this means is he isn't a good coach. A good coach is one who knows how to figure out the best system with the talent he has and adjusts accordingly. any idiot can draw up a bunch of run n gun plays. The LA Kings coach sounded like a bumpkin but they won a Stanley Cup...but The Lakers still need a coach with an attitude and a presence. D'antoni impresses no one. Even Rambis was more composed and verbal than this guy

[Pala]

all this means is he isn't a good coach. A good coach is one who knows how to figure out the best system with the talent he has and adjusts accordingly. any idiot can draw up a bunch of run n gun plays. The LA Kings coach sounded like a bumpkin but they won a Stanley Cup...but The Lakers still need a coach with an attitude and a presence. D'antoni impresses no one. Even Rambis was more composed and verbal than this guy

First of all, I think you're confusing a good coach and a great one. A great coach is, as you put it, "one who knows how to figure out the best system with the talent he has and adjust accordingly" - but there aren't many great coaches in today's league. Gregg Popovich, Rick Carlisle, and Tom Thibodeau definitely apply. Possibly Doc Rivers if you're being generous. However, there are a lot of "good" coaches who were system coaches, and I can point you to many good coaches throughout the history of the NBA who have succeeded in one stop but failed in multiple future endeavors.

At worst, D'Antoni should be considered a poor-man's version of Paul Westhead - an offensive innovator who succeeded greatly in one stop but ultimately flamed out due to the shortcomings of his own system at future jobs. The league adjusted, it happens. But D'Antoni's mark is all over the not just the professional game, but the college game now as well. Considering the entire NBA has been adopting a variety of major elements from D'Antoni's schemes and playbook for years, it's hard not to at least lend him the credence of merely a good coach.

[ram29jackson]

First of all, I think you're confusing a good coach and a great one. A great coach is, as you put it, "one who knows how to figure out the best system with the talent he has and adjust accordingly" - but there aren't many great coaches in today's league. Gregg Popovich, Rick Carlisle, and Tom Thibodeau definitely apply. Possibly Doc Rivers if you're being generous. However, there are a lot of "good" coaches who were system coaches, and I can point you to many good coaches throughout the history of the NBA who have succeeded in one stop but failed in multiple future endeavors.

At worst, D'Antoni should be considered a poor-man's version of Paul Westhead - an offensive innovator who succeeded greatly in one stop but ultimately flamed out due to the shortcomings of his own system at future jobs. The league adjusted, it happens. But D'Antoni's mark is all over the not just the professional game, but the college game now as well. Considering the entire NBA has been adopting a variety of major elements from D'Antoni's schemes and playbook for years, it's hard not to at least lend him the credence of merely a good coach.

LOL at -possibly Doc Rivers- Doc Rivers is a great coach, no ifs ands or buts. Nobody knows who the fuck Thibodeau is.... Anywho., The Lakers don't waste much time with so called good coach's, they go after the cream of the crop and the same will happen again soon enough

coaches who were system coaches, and I can point you to many good coaches throughout the history of the NBA who have succeeded in one stop but failed in multiple future endeavors.

that's right,that proves my point. Good in the NBA is still average in Lakerville and not good enough for purple n Gold. D'Antoni aint nothin' but another pro ball coach. No one in Lakerville gives a damn about the good coaches you can point at. Don't you get it ? when you go to 15 finals in 30 years you don't care about being top 8 or 10 like the rest of the league grabs for. Its about nothing but championships in LA and D'Antoni and the world knew he was nothing but a interim stop gap for a time being.

rant over LOL

[Pala]

LOL at -possibly Doc Rivers- Doc Rivers is a great coach, no ifs ands or buts. Nobody knows who the fuck Thibodeau is.... Anywho., The Lakers don't waste much time with so called good coach's, they go after the cream of the crop and the same will happen again soon enough

Doc Rivers was on the verge of getting fired before Danny Ainge conjured up Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, and then he proceeded to go to the Clippers with Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. He's a great leader - another good coach who can succeed in the right situation. Plug in Doc to the 2013-14 Lakers and you still lose 45+ and miss the playoffs - plug in Pop or Thibs and it's very possible you get into the playoffs somehow, as has been continually proven.

that's right,that proves my point. Good in the NBA is still average in Lakerville and not good enough for purple n Gold. D'Antoni aint nothin' but another pro ball coach. No one in Lakerville gives a damn about the good coaches you can point at. Don't you get it ? when you go to 15 finals in 30 years you don't care about being top 8 or 10 like the rest of the league grabs for. Its about nothing but championships in LA and D'Antoni and the world knew he was nothing but a interim stop gap for a time being.

rant over LOL

I can't wait until your franchise lays in the gutter for years post-Kobe, largely because of irreverent mistakes like hiring D'Antoni and expecting a guy to alter a system that he is known to be fully committed to and base it around two aging post players. Again, maybe if Dwight Howard plays the pick and roll willingly like he should have in the first place, then Dwight and D'Antoni stick around.

[EmpireWF]

Nobody knows who the fuck Thibodeau is....

just stop

[ram29jackson]

just stop

get back to me when he's accomplished something very significant that involves championship caliber HEAD coaching.

all his cute little awards as a second in command guy makes him still a nobody