The Los Angeles Lakers are entering a new era of basketball with head coach Mike D’Antoni at the helm.
As if the revamped squad with new additions Steve Nash and Dwight Howard weren’t a big enough transition for this team, the new-look Lakers will be debuting yet another new system this season once D’Antoni is ready to take over for interim head coach Bernie Bickerstaff. The new system will lean heavily on D’Antoni’s patented run-and-gun offense with Nash potentially standing to benefit the most.
Unfortunately, Nash won’t be ready for the Lakers first divisional showdown of the season with the Phoenix Suns on Friday according to L.A. Times’ Mike Bresnahan via Twitter:
Steve Nash (small fracture, leg) will not play Friday vs. his old team (PHX) and has only a small chance of playing Sunday vs. HOU. #Lakers
— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) November 15, 2012
There’s been no set timetable for Nash’s return to the floor and the two-time NBA MVP missing this game against former team is a clear indication that he’s not ready.
In his first interview as the Lakers new head coach, D’Antoni let it be known that there’s a chance that his debut might coincide with Nash’s return.