LA Lakers Hire Mike D'Antoni

[Numbers Guy]

Exec: Dwight Currently Playing Like Koufos

Dwight Howard is visibly not the same player he was before undergoing back surgery.

"Dwight Howard is basically Kosta Koufos," said one NBA executive on Wednesday.

"If you dropped in from another planet and had no idea who the players were, you would never know that Dwight Howard was one of the best players," said another executive.

Howard was ejected from Wednesday's loss by the Lakers to the Nuggets.

A little harsh..

[CleveRocks]

It is going to be uphill for the Lakers this year. They play 9 of 15 on the road in january, the last of whisch is the first of a seven game road stretch over 12 days. Then in march they play 10 of 15 on the road. Even with Nash back, they will be lucky to improve the road win percentage to 60 % for 11 more road losses before they hit april. This Team will have to play completely dominant ball to break 50 wins... Both Kobe and Howard have played pretty much every game so far. What are they odds they both stay healthy with tht kind of schedule?

[Mdog1]

A little harsh..

A little stupid...

7/6 .585

17/12 .563

don't see the similarities really.

[Randolphkeys]

If you look at averages per 36 minutes, Koufos and Dwight are eerily similar. Mind you that is in a year when Koufos has made a big jump in his 22 1/2 minutes a game and Dwight has been disappointing in 36 per game.

[Daniel89]

I'm seriously concerned about the Lakers possibly not making the playoffs, the west is so damnn stacked with good teams...
The Lakers' bench is absolutely horrible, the team lacks good perimeter defenders, World Peace is not a reliable shooter, Pau plays horribly while being parked at the 3P line in that offense, Dwight lacks offensive skills and has lots of defensive lapses, Nash cant guard a tree, etc.
And Kobe has to keep them in games, but also shoots them out of games...

They now have a tough western schedule ahead with games against Denver, Houston, San Antonio and OKC...
Still more than half of the season left, but I'm not very optimistic how they really could improve unless they make a trade

[CleveRocks]

They played the clips reasonably close, but did it with big games from Jordan Hill and Jodie Meeks. I think they will struggle because of all the road games, in addition the the average age and thin bench, but if they can avoid another injury to Kobe, Nash, and Howard, I think they will get in. But I dont see any way they beat the Clippers, OKC, or Golden State in the Playoffs, without some kind of upgrade.

[randymoss1881]

Oooh Shit Kobe comming hard at superwomen. Of course he wasnt gonna like him dude is a clown he jokes 24/7 and brought everything on himself. The best thing about this is who in the beginning would have thought the magic would walk away in the trade is robbers and obivous winners, with afflalo and the way vucavic is playing.

http://www.nydailynews.com/brooklyn-...icle-1.1234685



Lakers' Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard feuding in LA, Brooklyn Nets and Deron Willaims could benefit if team tries to trade big man
The Nets are in a position to put together an enticing package if they know Howard would sign long-term to play with Deron Williams. The Nets’ previous proposals to the Magic centered around Brook Lopez, who is having a breakthrough season coming off foot surgery.


Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant just can’t get along, and there’s a team in Brooklyn that might be waiting to pick up the pieces.

A league source told the Daily News that the Lakers stars got into a heated exchange following a New Year’s Day loss to the 76ers, and Bryant went for a low blow – referencing and agreeing with Shaquille O’Neal’s criticisms of Howard being soft.

Howard was restrained from going at his teammate, according to the source, and there have been rumblings from the center’s camp that he’s been unhappy with Bryant since earlier in the season.

Three days after the altercation, following a disheartening loss to the Clippers, Howard complained about the lack of chemistry on the Lakers. It was a comment seemingly directed at Bryant, who is averaging a league-high 22 shots despite playing with three potential Hall of Famers.

The Mike D’Antoni-coached Lakers fell to 15-18 after losing at home to the Denver Nuggets, 112-105, Sunday night despite Howard’s 26 rebounds. Bryant led L.A. with 29 points but took 26 shots.

“Look at the difference between our team and (the Clippers),” Howard said. “They just play together. They share the ball. Everybody’s excited when something happens.”

Howard again hinted at the disconnect on Saturday. There were always concerns over whether Bryant, a no-nonsense veteran, and Howard, a playful man-child, could co-exist.

“(Chemistry) is something we have to do to get better,” Howard told reporters in L.A. “We have to play like we like each other. Even if we don’t want to be friends off the court, whatever that may be, when we step in between the lines or we step in the locker room or the gym, we have to respect each other and what we bring to the table.”

Howard, a pending free agent, has not committed to Los Angeles beyond this season.

If the Lakers decide Howard won’t re-sign, they risk losing him for nothing and it becomes more likely they trade the six-time All-Star.

The Nets spent all of last year trying to acquire Howard, who admitted in October that Brooklyn was his preferred destination.

The Nets are in a position to put together an enticing package if they know Howard would sign long-term to play with Deron Williams. The Nets’ previous proposals to the Magic centered around Brook Lopez, who is having a breakthrough season coming off foot surgery.

Lopez can’t be traded until Jan. 15 because he signed a four-year, $61 million deal in the summer. He is averaging 18.9 points and 7.4 rebounds, while Howard – who is coming off back surgery – is on pace for his worst statistical campaign (17.4 points, 12.0 rebounds) since his second season.

Prior to the trade that sent Howard to Los Angeles, Bryant reportedly told Howard he’d be the third offensive option if traded to the Lakers. Following the New Year’s Day loss to the 76ers, Bryant was ticked off at Howard and ticked off in front of the media.

“Cause we’re old as s---,” the 34-year-old told reporters, explaining the Lakers’ struggles. “What do you want? We just got to figure out how to play when we don’t have that energy



Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/ba...#ixzz2HH7rYRRd

[KI4MVP]

Tonight Howard had 26 rebounds, but just 14 points because the Lakers only managed to get him 7 shots in 41 minutes, which is idiotic. Meanwhile Kobe shot 11-26 and Artest shot 5-13. Howard going 6 for 7 got the 6th most shots on the team. After the game there was the story above on the argument with Kobe and news he has an MRI scheduled tomorrow.

Until tonight i was pretty confident the Lakers would make the playoffs and get us our draft pick from the trade, but now I'm not so sure.

[GCCSteel]

Until tonight i was pretty confident the Lakers would make the playoffs and get us our draft pick from the trade, but now I'm not so sure.

My utmost hope is that they can sneak in at the end of the season for the 8th seed. With Portland, Minnesota and Utah all vying for that 8th spot right now, it doesn't look promising.

I really enjoy the Lakers struggling after seemingly having players handed to them every year, but I also REALLY want that draft pick to add to our team.

[RonG]

I don't think there is a trade possible that makes the Lakers a contender this year. To much time has passed already they do not have chemistry and from everything being said Dwight isn't healthy and is still being a malcontent. Honestly it is going to take a prayer and a miracle for them to even make the play-offs. I do think they have a better chance to make the play-offs with out Howard or Gasol playing together.

[Jack Brickman]

On the one hand, it feels dirty to root for the Lakers to get at least the 8th seed.

On the other hand, it's hilarious watching them fall apart. I have absolutely no respect for Dwight Howard and, unless he's wearing a Cavs jersey (which is unlikely), wish him nothing but failure in his career.

Finally, how many more days until the title of this thread is changed to LA Lakers Fire Mike D'Antoni? My guess is no more than 25. If they Lakers haven't righted this ship by the end of January, D'Antoni is a dead man walking.

[rabman_gold]

Big god damn deal... If we don't get the Lakers pick, we still get the Heat one instead. I have the feeling with all the trades and movement we'll be making throughout this season and through the draft, it won't matter too much. You'd just assume it'd end with the 27th-30th pick if the Lakers suck that badly, but there's always more interesting things that can happen when a team gets creative.

Personally, it would be nice if the Lakers had the 16th pick, but I won't complain if they collapse instead (kinda serves them right/karma for the last 6+ years). The fruits of the new CBA Labor Deal really will look great on paper. And it will look nice once we get our pieces picked up soon too.

[Jack Brickman]

Dwight Howard out indefinitely (at least a week, probably more) with a torn labrum.

Pau Gasol out indefinitely (until he passes the league's tests) with a concussion.

Jordan Hill out with a hip injury. I didn't see a timetable for his return, so I'm not sure how serious the injury was.

Welp.

We're not getting that pick.

[MGMT]

@Houston, @San Antonio, vs OKC then us is their next 4 games.

Good luck Kobe.

[RTrees]

Shoes that is almost correct, but if we swap with the lakers, the suns get what ever pick we swap with them this year.

This sounds wrong to me..

The Suns agreed with the Lakers to receive a pick which has it's position determined by what the Heat do via the Cavs?

I think it's more likely that if the Cavs get to swap Heat/Lakers' picks with the Lakers this year, the Suns wait until a future year to receive an actual Lakers original draft pick.

But if you're right, I apologize. They must have really worded these deals interestingly.