Lakers’ D’Antoni either unable or unwilling to adapt

New York Knicks head coach Mike Woodson has been very successful since taking over the team after former coach Mike D’Antoni’s resignation last season. While D’Antoni has moved on to what most would consider a more talented team, D’Antoni hasn’t been nearly as successful as his New York successor.

It almost makes you wonder why D’Antoni was touted as such a big coaching hire to begin with. He didn’t get it done in New York and despite all the talent at his disposal with the Los Angeles Lakers, he hasn’t been able to get it done there either.

D’Antoni vs Jackson: a Contrast in Coaching Styles

Los Angeles Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak said he chose to hire Mike D’Antoni over fan-favorite and 11-time champion Phil Jackson because he felt D’Antoni’s system would be a better fit for the Lakers current roster. Only time will tell though if he made the right decision.

Now no one doubts that D’Antoni’s system can be implemented on the fly much quicker than the triangle system that Jackson prefers, but Jackson’s coaching style and familiarity with the team’s core players may have ultimately led to more team success.

Will we finally get a Kobe versus LeBron Finals matchup?

Back in the 2008-2009 season, Nike unleashed a brilliant marketing campaign using puppets to represent the Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant and Cleveland Cavaliers’ star forward LeBron James.

Bryant and James were the two most dominant and most popular players in the league at that time, so Nike was rooting for a Cavaliers versus Lakers matchup in the 2009 NBA Finals. Unfortunately, James and the Cavaliers couldn’t get by the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals in order to make this dream marketing matchup a reality.

Pistons’ Greg Monroe ready for a breakout year

Who says that the NBA isn’t a big man’s league anymore? Sure the league is no longer filled with the 20-10 big men that used to own the hardwood but there are still plenty of good centers in the league today and the Detroit Pistons’ Greg Monroe is one of them.

You won’t hear his name much because, well, he plays for the Pistons who haven’t won much in recent years but Monroe has played well despite his team’s struggles though.

Van Gundy’s out: Does Patrick Ewing get a shot to coach Orlando?

It’s probably not likely but the question needed to be asked. Now that the Orlando Magic have parted ways with head coach Stan Van Gundy, will assistant coach Patrick Ewing get a chance to take over the team?

Ewing has long sought a chance to prove his coaching abilities with a team in the league but with the Magic still trying to woo center Dwight Howard into signing a long-term contract, expect them to seek a more high-profile coaching hire.

Is Roy Hibbert finally closing the gap with Bynum, Howard?

Center Roy Hibbert has had a great season playing for the Indiana Pacers this year. He has career highs in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots for the season and even made the All-Star team but is he actually ready to be mentioned in the same breath as the leagues’ two best centers Dwight Howard and Andrew Bynum?

Immaturity of Magic’s Howard, Lakers’ Bynum hurting their teams

At various points this season the Los Angeles Lakers and the Orlando Magic were in discussions to swap their star centers Andrew Bynum and Dwight Howard. Both teams were looking to move their centers for different reasons but in the end it seems that maybe they were just looking to swap headaches.

Bynum has played great for the Lakers during his six year career, when he has played that is. The major concern with Bynum going into this season was his health issues so the Lakers were willing to trade him if it meant bringing back the ultra-durable Howard.

Magic’s Van Gundy gone after season, Otis Smith to follow?

With all this drama surrounding Dwight Howard and his alleged desire to have his head coach Stan Van Gundy fired, people forget that Orlando Magic owner Rich DeVos also put general manager Otis Smith’s fate in Howard’s hands.

NBA trade deadline marked by flurry of transactions

A lot of the big names that we have heard bandied about over the past few months stayed home but there were still a flurry of trades that occurred as the NBA trade deadline expired on Thursday.

Dwight Howard stays, Orlando Magic lose

Dwight Howard’s request to finish the season with the Orlando Magic just illustrates why players shouldn’t be put in the position to make personnel decisions. A player will worry more about what benefits them than what will ultimately benefit the team.

Final Destination: Dwight Howard will be a Maverick

Orlando Magic owner Rich DeVos seems content to gamble on whether or not his star center Dwight Howard will leave as a free agent after the season is over. Déjà vu anyone?

Contestants please: sizing up the All-Star game in Orlando

In my humble opinion, I believe that the NBA hosts the best all-star game of all professional sports. You don’t hear anyone talk about all-star contests from different eras like you do the Slam Dunk contest or the Three-Point shooting contest. Famous dunks like Dominique Wilkins’ tomahawk, Michael Jordan dunking from the free throw line or Vince Carter sticking his arm in the rim are classic highlights on sports shows.

Stoudemire for Howard revisted: Would Howard want to join the Linsanity?

Trading Dwight Howard to the New York Knicks for Amar’e Stoudemire is an option that many in the media felt would benefit both the Knicks and the Orlando Magic. Stoudemire grew up in Florida and would give the Magic a post player comparable to what they have in Howard (at least offensively) while Howard’s game would mesh more with Carmelo Anthony’s half-court game.

Jersey Shore: The reality is the Nets stink

Poor Deron Williams. This was supposed to be the year when he would cement his legacy as the best point guard in the game. The year he would tag team with Dwight Howard to make the first serious run at a championship in his career.

Magic owner delusional about Howard

I guess Disney World isn’t the only place in the Orlando area that sells dreams. Somehow Orlando Magic owner, Rich DeVos believes that keeping Dwight Howard in Orlando is still an option at this point. Talk about wishing upon a star.

Nuggets, Hawks are not Championship Contenders

The Denver Nuggets and Atlanta Hawks will make the playoffs this season but neither team will make it to the NBA Finals. Sorry Nuggets and Hawks fans. Although both of these teams have deep rosters filled with talented players, neither team possesses a true superstar that can carry them through a deep playoff run.

Is It Time to ‘Irsay’ the Magic?

With Dwight Howard’s impending departure and the Orlando Magic’s poor play as of late, should Magic owner Rich DeVos take the nuclear option and blow up his team the way Jim Irsay has done the Indianapolis Colts?

Hornets on Verge of Another Trade

The New Orleans Hornets announced that they are seeking a trade partner for center Chris Kaman who they acquired in a trade with the Clippers during the offseason. The Hornets seek to get younger as they continue the rebuilding process that was ushered in when they traded Chris Paul during that same offseason trade.

Should the Clippers trade Griffin for Howard?

Over the past week, the Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard has added the Los Angeles Clippers to the list of teams he would like to be traded to. There’s not a scarier thought for teams around the league than the idea of Howard joining Chris Paul in Lob City but should the Clippers trade Blake Griffin to get him?

Post Man Cometh: Is Dwight Howard the Last Dominant Big Man?

I wonder if Dwight Howard feels lonely. With the retirement of Shaquille O’Neal and Yao Ming over the past year it seems like the era of the dominant 20-and-10 big man has come to an end. Once a staple of the NBA, teams are now happy to get a serviceable defender to play the post. For those of us who remember the glory days, it’s frightening to see skinny offensively-challenged centers like Joakim Noah and Tyson Chandler become coveted names in free agency.