Lakers: Ranking the Team’s Top 5 Worst Decisions Since 2010
4. Choosing Mike D’Antoni Over Phil Jackson
This move will forever be a head-scratcher to me. It blows my mind every time I think about the idea that the Lakers willingly chose Mike D’Antoni as a coach over Phil Jackson. Just think about that for a second.
The first head coach of the previously mentioned super team attempt was Mike Brown. However, after producing a preseason record of 0-8, and starting the regular season 1-4, Brown was let go. In need of a new head coach, the Lakers pulled their usual move and made 11-time champion Phil Jackson their first option. After Jackson asked for two days to mull his decision, the Lakers quickly went in a different direction.
Instead of giving Phil his time and later re-hiring him, the team’s brass decided that former Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks head coach Mike D’Antoni was a better option. This isn’t speculation either, as Jackson later revealed that he would’ve re-signed had the Lakers respected his request. There are three major problems with the Lakers making this decision.
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The first is that the front office didn’t consult any of the roster before the decision, not even their franchise player Kobe Bryant. Neither Bryant, Howard, Nash, or any of the players knew about this decision nor were they included in the process.
This created a small sense of distrust between the players and the management. Especially with Howard, who had reportedly, specifically asked for Phil Jackson to return. (Howard later stated that this was a major factor in him leaving the Lakers)
The second issue is with the offensive game plan. Supposedly, one of the major factors behind the D’Antoni hiring was because of his style of play. The front office believed that his fast paced style would be a better match for this team over the Triangle Offense.
This only further proves how out of touch the Buss family and GM Mitch Kupchak can be at times. When your core consists of several players over 30 years old, you don’t play a fast style. The Triangle was a slower, more structured offense that would’ve fit perfectly with the Lakers roster.
The last problem boils down to a simple resume check between the two candidates. Phil Jackson has coached some of the greatest players in NBA history and won 11 championships. D’Antoni, has never even led a team to the NBA Finals. Jackson has made a living out of team building and reaching common goals. D’Antoni thinks that 30 minutes is more than enough time to practice defense, and gets offended when you suggest otherwise. Need I say more…?
Next: 3. Letting Pau Gasol Walk