It is no secret that the Lakers have perform better on the defense end if they are going to come close to winning a championship in the near future. This past season they ranked 18th in defensive efficiency and gave up 101 points per game, which ranked in the bottom ten in the NBA.
From a schematic standpoint, the Lakers never seemed to know what to do on the defensive end. They were continually taken advantage of in transition and lacked the communication to be effective in that half-court defense.
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With a multitude of the blame for the Lakers’ deficiencies on the defensive end being given to the coaching staff, head coach Mike D’Antoni may be on the lookout to find some help in the form of an assistant, and he already has a few candidates that he is targeting.
D’Antoni has made it known that he is looking to add either Nate McMillan or Alvin Gentry, according to Ken Berger of CBS Sports.
With the Lakers in full-on evaluation mode after getting swept in the first round by the Spurs, coach Mike D’Antoni is actively exploring his long-standing desire to add a defensive-minded assistant. D’Antoni’s first choice is believed to be McMillan. But with the fellow Team USA assistant expected to land a head coaching job, coaching sources believe D’Antoni will get the green light to add former Suns coach Alvin Gentry to his staff for next season.
Both Gentry and McMillan are expected to be interviewed for head coaching positions for a few other teams around the league (Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Bobcats). So in the event that both get the opportunity to become head coaches again, D’Antoni may face a road block in getting the guy that he wants.
Regardless, this is a clear step in the right direction for Mike D’Antoni. It is great that he recognized the need for aid on the defensive end and is intending to do something about it.
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In case you missed it, here is Mike D’Antoni from his exit interview earlier this week.
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