D’Antoni makes Lakers debut tonight
by Rachel Shuster, USA TODAY Sports
Mike D’Antoni, who has been the Los Angeles Lakers coach the last two weeks but hasn’t been on the bench as he rehabs from knee replacement surgery, will make his debut at tonight’s home game against the Brooklyn Nets, Lakers spokesman John Black confirmed to USA TODAY Sports.
D’Antoni, who is familiar with Lakers forward Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard from Team USA duties and Steve Nash from coaching him with the Phoenix Suns, was hired after second-year coach Mike Brown was fired with the team standing at 1-4.
Nash, still injured himself, will not dress again tonight. Nash (fractured leg) will miss at least another week.
D’Antoni wanted to be on sideline Sunday but was convinced to give the knee more time by his wife, Laurel, and Lakers trainer Gary Vitti. The Lakers beat the Houston Rockets 119-108.
Lakers great Magic Johnson, who was in favor of Phil Jackson returning for a third stint as coach, went on Twitter on Monday and said he has been pleased by what he has seen so far from the team under D’Antoni.
“I must admit the @Lakers are more fun to watch under coach D’Antoni’s system,” Johnson tweeted, comparing the team’s energy now vs. early in the season under Brown. “Coach D’Antoni has the @Lakers playing a more uptempo offense with great ball movement.”
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