From Simers’ column in this morning’s paper: “MINNEAPOLIS — I came to this walk-in freezer hoping to get the best out of the Lakers because Coach Mike D’Antoni can’t always get the job done. But I still liked his chances of winning this one. In fact, I was telling him before Friday night’s game, “you’ve won 19 straight times over this team, so even you can’t screw it up.” You know what he said.“Oh yeah?” He had a point, nothing a sure thing apparently if he’s coaching, and while the Lakers did win they should be embarrassed. They had a 29-point lead against one of the most inept teams known to mankind and allowed Minnesota to make it a four-point game late. “I’m embarrassed,” said D’Antoni when I brought it up. “You should be,” I agreed. “Well good,” said D’Antoni. “So we agree,” I said. “No, we don’t,” said D’Antoni, and it’s a wonder anyone understands this guy the way he waffles. “They do win games here; they are a professional team,” D’Antoni said in stretching the truth to make his point about the Wolves. “Shved hit some threes and things didn’t go well, but at the same time we won by 10 or 12 and we’re fine.” I have no idea who Shved is either, and while a win is a win, the Lakers are not fine. They lost to Phoenix to begin this trip, blowing a 13-point, fourth-quarter lead. And they were hanging on against a Minnesota, which missed 10 free throws. This is supposed to be a Lakers’ team making a run for the playoffs. Where’s the killer instinct, especially when playing teams that were certified dead long ago?”
Alek Samm says
I’m reluctant to stick up for D’Antoni but he is right. Embarrasing as it is, they walked out w/ the W. That’s all that matters. The only reason why it’s a big deal that the Lakers blew that lead is it’s because it’s the Lakers. If it had been reversed, and the T-Wolves had held on for the win and won by 10 after being up 30 points, they’d be praised for holding on and getting it done and then the Lakers would be torched for getting down by 30.
The Lakers (along with other high profile, big superstar teams) will always have high expectations which makes people (at times) overly critical of them.