The Los Angeles Lakers already have fired one head coach in this disappointing season, but general manager Mitch Kupchak isn’t placing all the blame for the team’s 17-24 start on the current one.

“Without a doubt, we have utmost confidence in Mike (D’Antoni) as a coach,” Kupchak told ESPNLosAngeles.com in a phone interview Tuesday from Memphis.

Kupchak singled out the Lakers’ effort, or lack thereof, as the most frustrating part to see.

“I’m a little bit concerned about our effort,” Kupchak said. “I’d like to see better effort on the court. When the ball is not bouncing your way, when shots aren’t going in, you just can’t seem to get a break, the one thing you can control on the court is your effort and loose balls and running the floor, defending, offensive rebounding.”

via Dave McMenamin of ESPN Los Angeles