Amar’e Boggles D’Antoni’s Mind
Mind-boggling.
That was the reaction of Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni to Amar’e Stoudemire’s blunt remarks he was “never taught defense’’ in his career before getting a solid defensive coach in the Knicks’ Mike Woodson.
D’Antoni and Stoudemire were together a combined six seasons in Phoenix and New York. Their relationship while with the Suns wasn’t too good. It got better when D’Antoni coached the Knicks. Now Stoudemire’s dagger has sent it off the rails again.
“I don’t think he meant it bad, but it’s mind-boggling,’’ D’Antoni said Friday after Lakers practice.
Asked what Stoudemire meant, D’Antoni said: “Come on. He just threw [former Phoenix coach] Frank Johnson, myself, [and current Suns coach] Alvin Gentry [under the bus]. Actually, Mike Woodson, [was] he saving the good stuff? He was the defensive coach [last year]. I’ll save that until I really coach him. That doesn’t make any sense.’’
A reporter asked how Shawn Marion and Raja Bell, also D’Antoni students, became good defenders.
“It just boggles the mind,’’ D’Antoni said. “It just boggles the mind.’’
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