Mike D’Antoni to Make Coaching Debut for the Lakers Tonight


New Los Angeles Lakers head coach Mike D’Antoni continues to hobble around on his surgically-replaced knee, but he feels good enough to patrol the sidelines. D’Antoni will make his Laker debut tonight at home against the visiting Brooklyn Nets. Per the team website: “I’m too psyched up, I’m too ready to go, I’ll get through this – it’s not a big deal,’ he said after Tuesday’s shootaround. ‘I (feel) better. It’s time to do it … I don’t want to miss too many games.’ L.A. has been scoring the ball at will for two games (116.5 per game) using elements of D’Antoni’s system as he watched from the locker room, still recovering from knee replacement surgery. D’Antoni joked that he avoided head athletic trainer Gary Vitti, whom he praised for helping him through the recovery process, saying that even if his knee was still sore it was time for him to take the court.”