When Mike D’Antoni was hired after five games into the 2012-13 season, the biggest issue throughout the season was not having a full training camp to implement his philosophies. It didn’t help that Steve Nash was injured and when he finally came back, the Lakers had to make adjustments on the fly throughout the season.
When the Lakers finally were able to find a winning formula that featured a slower tempo and more post opportunities, the team finished the season 28-12.
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After a disastrous season, Mike D’Antoni is excited about the opportunity to finally have a full training camp with the Lakers. In a radio interview with ESPNLA 710, Mike D’Antoni discussed the importance of having a training camp this season:
“Last year, I came in with certain ideas and didn’t get a chance to see if it’s realistic or not. Also, Steve Nash was hurt for the first seven weeks. So we kept waiting for him to come back to see if it’s all going to work. We had to adjust some things to maximize what we had.”
While some may feel that not having a full training camp is an excuse, training camp allows the Lakers coaching staff to figure out player tendencies and put them in the best positions to succeed:
“This year, we should start off and finding some problems starting in October, or September, actually. You get to watch guys play and formulate your ideas and you try to get it going by November.”
While the Lakers don’t quite have the high expectations like last year, they should be able to get off to a better start. Instead of trying to figure out what is best for the team during the course of 82 games, the Lakers can figure out their strengths and weaknesses during training camp.
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