Lakers fire Mike Brown

Since we're talkin about the Lakers...they should call Kuester...or Plaid suit guy.

Hey I was at Staples today .....(to see the Clippers beat the Hawks), and yes even the conscessionaire staff and parking attendants were still pining for a Phil Jackson return. (By the way the floor was flipped in less than 3 hours in time for the Laker-Kings game.)

But as stated earlier, Phil wants to skip some practices and virtual coach the team from home on some of the road games. For this he wants $10 mill per year for 2 years or 2 chances to get the 12th ring. The assumption is that he would get new coaches and Brian Shaw maybe the designated road coach...probably at only $2 mill per year.

Hey why not give Bernie Bickerstaff a shot? As the interim coach, he has two straight double digit victories over the those two up and coming NoCal teams Warriors and Kings

It looks like that Kobe & Co. won't give anybody a shot but Zen.

Just here gloating about the fact that I called it.

Yep, Panda called it. D'antoni it is.
Lakers hire Mike D'Antoni as next coach - Yahoo! Sports

This actually is a good fit. Probably the best shot D'antoni will ever get at a ring.

A no defense type coach for a no defense PG.... probably best fit for talent, but not sure a better fit for a title come next June.

I think Phil made it clear he was going to be a pain in the @#$ with all of his demands.

Mike Brown sorta reminds me of Wayne Fontes for some reason.
...Maybe a more competent Wayne Fontes.

I know the Laker fans in LA are upset about Phil not getting the job, but seems like the media is upset too.

The report was that Phil was all ready to take the job this morning, but his agent was informed last night that the job was going to D'Antoni. Looks like they are catering to Nash/Howard and his ability to get the team clicking on all cylinders with the pick and roll. But the what about defense?? That was one of the issues in the first few games. This team is mission fail when it comes to competing with good teams. No bench, so if any of the top five get injured it may be a struggle.

Also there is a money difference here. Phil, $20 M for 2 years, D'Antoni $12M for 4 years....

Here is Bill Plashkes take from the LA Times..
.Why Lakers' hiring of Mike D'Antoni is bad, in 7 seconds or less - latimes.com

Combine the money with travel restrictions, personnel decisions, ownership stake, and an offense that doesn't fit. D'Antoni will certainly be under the spotlight.

Buss thinks of himself as the man and was probably irritated at Jackson's negotiation (travel restrictions, might have wanted some ownership stake, etc.).

O'Antoni finally has a job where he will be judged purely on whether or not he gets a title. Scoring some points won't get him there.

I never said I disliked him, and I agree he is a great coach. He knows how to deal with today's egotistical professional athletes. I just think he has turned into one of these egotistical sorts, too. He asked for a ton, and I like the fact that Lakers said, "Forget it, Phil." The Lakers are selling it as D'Antoni fitting better with the current roster. I don't believe that. I think certain members of the Buss family don't like Phil. Obviously, not Jeannie.

They ran 'the Kobe'. And it sucked.

I think this is a common misconception about D'Antoni. ESPN doesn't help by talking this kind of trash. D'Antoni teams rely on transition and pace. Thats why they appear to be a lax defensive team. But I suppose their approach is just 'score more than the opponent', rather than to reduce the scoring ability of the other team. Its just as valid as playing defense first.

I heard they rejected phil cause he wanted Cupchak to iron his shirts on the road.

Phil wasn't even going to go on road trips...

I know.......but Cupchak woulda had to have gone...and to keep busy, he gets to iron.