Grading The Lakers So Far This Season

Mike Dantoni

Nov 8, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach Mike D

Grade: A-

That Steve Blake, Jodie Meeks, Jordan Hill, Xavier Henry, Nick Young and Wesley Johnson are having the best years of their respective careers is a testament to Mike D’Antoni. His standing as the patron saint of marginal players is intact. The most obvious change in his coaching philosophy has been the use of a long bench. The Lakers play 10 players and most have the green light. The team has an “on any given night” personality with seemingly a different player each game leading the team in scoring. The Lakers have even shown an improvement defensively, albeit a minor one. His rotations have been smart and the stubbornness that marked his tenure in Phoenix and New York has given way to a willingness to be flexible. There’s been no clamoring for his head or even a mention of Phil Jackson and after last season, that’s a start.