This has been quite the week, but nothing is ever really boring in Lakerland. Especially when you have the expectations this Lakers roster possess for the season. Nothing can be less than perfect.
Kobe Bryant has had a few words to say about the head coaching drama that’s been buzzing this week since Monday. The Mamba, for one, endorses Mike D’Antoni, but at the same time reflects on why his #1 choice would have been Phil. Kobe explained how he knows his capabilities, and like many basketball stars, how he shines on the court no matter what. But the reason why Phil was so special to him? He epitomized the main aspect a head coach has to have:
“[Coaches] instilling confidence in the rest of the group and putting them in a position to be successful, allowing them to play in the fourth quarter when they blow a lead, and letting them develop, those are the things that make a great coach.”
Elizabeth Benson of Lakers Nation started the day off right in her discussion of how Dwight Howard is effecting Kobe’s game, in a good way. The dynamic between the two players on Tuesday night exuded the foundation of teamwork and chemistry the Lakers are beginning to build, but also showed why Howard is a major reason for Kobe’s consistent and rather uncharacteristic shooting efficiency. Check out the rest of Benson’s post as she breaks down plays and further begins to convince skeptics why Howard was a great move for L.A.
In case you missed it, the Los Angeles Lakers head coach Mike D’Antoni conducted his first television interview as a member of the franchise Tuesday night on Time Warner Cable SportsNet. The interview was very insightful and D’Antoni went on to speak about Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson and many other issues. Make sure to watch the clip to get a feel for the new head coach in anticipation for him joining the team this weekend in his first game.
Still not getting your Lakers games on TV because you don’t have the right cable provider? Well you may not be suffering for much longer. The long-awaited deal between Time Warner Cable and DirecTV has finally become a reality! A deal for DirecTV to carry Time Warner Cable SportsNet and Time Warner Cable Deportes is expected in the coming days. DirecTV will join other major networks Cox Communications, Verizon Fios, AT&T U-verse and Charter Cable that have already agreed to a deal with Time Warner Cable.
Injury Update! Steve Nash will not reunite on the court with his previous franchise this Friday. Nash won’t be ready for the Lakers first divisional showdown of the season with the Phoenix Suns. There’s been no set timetable for Nash’s return to the floor as he takes care of his leg fracture. Jordan Hill suffered an injury during Wednesday’s night’s game when he sprained his right wrist. This comes after he already suffered a herniated disk this summer. Hill is listed as probable for Friday’s game.
Lakers Nation News
Kobe Bryant’s 2012-13 Efficiency: The Dwight Howard Effect
Lakers News: DirecTV Expected to Agree to Deal With Time Warner Cable
Kobe Bryant Says He Likely Would Not Have Won Rings Without Jackson
Kobe Bryant Questions the Lakers For Not Hiring Phil Jackson
Lakers News: Magic Johnson Rips Jim Buss On NBA Countdown
Kobe Explains Why Phil Jackson Was So Successful
Lakers News: Steve Nash Will Miss First Game Against Suns
Lakers News: Jordan Hill (Wrist) Listed as Probable Against Suns
Video: Mike D’Antoni Conducts First Lakers Interview
Lakers News
Lakers Coaching Staff to Stay the Same [Silver Screen and Roll]
Beast or Burden: Game of Inches [Silver Screen and Roll]
Mike D’Antoni was Surprised By His Hiring [Silver Screen and Roll]
Kobe Bryant’s Lazy Defense Gives Spurs Green light [Silver Screen and Roll]
Mike D’Antoni Era Brings As Many Questions As Answers [Forum Blue and Gold]
Popovich Had ‘Strange Thought’ on Jackson [ESPN]
Bernie Bickerstaff Loses Spot as Greatest Lakers Coach of All Time [LA Times]
Magic Johnson “Mourning” Lakers Not Hiring Phil Jackson. Ugh. [ProBasketballTalk]
The Ever Efficient Kobe Bryant [Forum Blue and Gold]
Introducing Mike D’Antoni [LA Times]
D’Antoni Discusses Lakers, Jackson [NBA]
Mike D’Antoni Likely to Make Lakers Debut Sunday [SB Nation]
Metta World Peace Struggles With Shooting … Then Spelling [LA Times]
Mike D’Antoni Talks Expectations [ESPN]
Blogtable: Look At The Lakers Now [Hang Time Blog]
LeBron James, Dwyane Wade Offer Advice to Mike D’Antoni, Lakers [USA Today]
Can Lakers’ Mike D’Antoni Get Anything Out of Meeks or Ebanks? [LA Times]
Nash Talks Being Reunited (and It Feels So Good) with D’Antoni [ProBasketballTalk]
Kobe Bryant Says Phil Jackson Under-appreciated [ESPN]
Time Warner Cable, DirecTV Reach a Deal on Lakers [SB Nation]
Hiring D’Antoni Makes Sense for Lakers in Short Term and Long Run [SI.com]
Interview with the New Mike [LA Times]
NBA News
Bobcats Traded Matt Carroll to the Hornets for Hakim Warrick [SLAM Online]
Basketball: A Boy’s Escape [Pounding the Rock]
2013 NBA All-Star Game: 5 Nuggets Appear on Ballot [SB Nation]
Rockets Rookie White Still Absent From Practices [NBA]
FIBA Wants to Add 3-on-3 Basketball in the 2016 Olympics [SLAM Online]
Video: Chris Bosh Makes Cameo On NBC Sitcom “Go On’ [ProBasketballTalk]
It’s Clear the Los Angeles Clippers are the Best Basketball Team in the City of Los Angeles [ESPN]
Andrew Bynum Has Amazing Hair (PHOTOS) [SLAM Online]
Bogut to Rehab in L.A. as Warriors Travel [NBA]
Are the Grizzlies Finding Their Groove? [True Hoop]
Stern says NBA revenues should be $5 billion this season [ProBasketballTalk]
Houston Rockets Will Retire Yao Ming’s Jersey [SLAM Online]