Any chance of the Lakers surprising those who believed they would fall this year was done in by the insane amount of injuries the team suffered. As a whole, the Lakers missed 319 games due to injuries this season.
When nearly everyone on the team misses time, it becomes more than just luck. Some have questioned whether coach Mike D’Antoni’s preferred pace contributed to the team’s injury issues. D’Antoni responded to the possibility during the Lakers exit interviews according to Lakers Nation reporter Serena Winters:
D'Antoni on theory that his faster pace of play leads to more injuries: "To me, it's ludicrous."
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) April 18, 2014
It is very easy to point fingers when the team struggles the way the Lakers did. The injuries clearly did the team in this season, but the Lakers pace of play had very little, if anything to do with the team’s inability to stay healthy.
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Regardless, D’Antoni will continue to be criticized for his style of play until he proves that he can win a championship. Fair or not, that has been the case, and D’Antoni spoke about the critics and why he thinks they disagree with his style so much, via Winters:
“The problem is most people commenting on it, played a different way.” – D'Antoni expanding on the issues regarding how basketball's changed
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) April 18, 2014
D’Antoni has been the subject of criticism of old-school Lakers legends at different times during this season, but he is right in that there is simply a difference in philosophy, and the game has changed.
Unfortunately for him, others have won rings and he has yet to get to the Finals. Until that changes, D’Antoni will continue to be wrong in the eyes of many.
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