The Lakers Bring Back Kurt Rambis

The Lakers today have announced today that they have rehired Kurt Rambis as an  assistant coach, and also hired former Philadelphia 76ers Head Coach Johnny Davis.

Rambis left the team in 2009 to become Head Coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves. He lasted two seasons before being let go at the end of the 2010-2011 season. As an assistant, Rambis garnered league wide respect as the defensive coordinator for Phil Jackson’s championship teams.

His familiarity with Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol will be useful in tailoring schemes catered to their defensive strengths.

Johnny Davis comes to the Lakers with an extensive resume. He was Allen Iverson’s first NBA coach in his lone year with the 76ers in 1996-1997, and then for two seasons helmed a fast paced offensive attack starring Tracy Mcgrady for the Orlando Magic.

Davis comes to Los Angeles deeply versed in Mike D’Antoni’s “7 seconds or less” offense. Davis served as lead assistant for Marc Iavaroni during his stint as Head Coach with the Memphis Grizzlies. Iavaroni was a longtime assistant of D’Antoni with the Phoenix Suns and brought that philosophy with him.

The hiring of this pair seems to point to both a return to a more fast paced offense with the second unit, while possibly re-introducing some Triangle offense halfcourt sets to incorporate Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Chris Kaman with the starters.