To Mr D’Antoni,
As Laker Nation tries to comprehend Kobe Bryant’s season-ending injury, one wonders if the injury could have been avoided. Kobe Bean Bryant is in his 17th season in the NBA, yet you continuously act as if he is a sophomore, making him play endless tireless minutes each night. I am aware that Kobe wants to play big minutes, but this is a result of his own drive and will to succeed. A person’s brain often makes decisions that impacts their body. As head coach, the onus is on you to withdraw players to avoid scenarios such as the one we find ourselves in at present.
Kobe Bryant epitomises all that is right about the Lakers. He has played a starring role in one of the most dramatic scripts ever played out in the Staples Centre. It is no longer the ‘House That Shaq Built’. This is Kobe’s home and he is undoubtedly the only current Laker who will have his jersey hung from the rafters in years to come. His 81 points against Toronto in 2006 will go down as one of the most complete performances in Laker history. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson, Jerry West. None of these players scored 81 points at the Staples Centre.
Kobe Bryant will always be bigger than the coach, but your ineptitude when it comes to asserting your dominance is something that needs to be addressed. Even on the rare occasions when Kobe sat out games this season as a result of injury, it was clear that he was the one calling the shots. Perhaps the reason Kobe plays so many minutes is because when he is on the hardwood, you know he wont be calling the shots from the bench.
I think I speak for all of Laker Nation when I say that no one, not one single person, wanted you take the reins. You were found out in New York. Yes you resigned, but that was to save grace considering you were shown to be the bum you so clearly are. We wanted Phil, but all we got was a ‘Pringles-Head’. Unlike the brand of tasty potato chips you share your head with, you have left Laker Nation with a bad taste in their mouth.
Pau Gasol has given his all for the Lakers. He has become LA’s adopted son. Yet you treated him with so much disrespect and relegated him to the bench. I would understand if it was because Dwight was playing a lot better than Pau, but it wasn’t. Your stubbornness came to the fore when ‘D12’ continued to underperform, and Pau never returned to the starting lineup.
Your decisions have baffled me. I understand that you were very successful in Phoenix with Steve Nash etc. but this isn’t Arizona. The Lakers is the biggest franchise in the NBA and ineptitude is not allowed, let alone forgiven.
This has been the toughest season for everybody involved in the Lakers, fans and player alike. It started with so much optimism….. and then you arrived.
Mike Brown was fired, warranted or not, and then you were appointed. What was the reasoning? Brown was a defensive specialist, yet you don’t seem to understand the concept of defense. The D’Antoni offense is more underwhelming than Home Alone 3. I honestly cannot comprehend how you can have two of the games great big men in Pau and Dwight, yet continue to allow small teams set up shop in the paint. I know it has improved in recent weeks, but what were you doing?
As you can gather I am angered and saddened (in equal measure) by Kobe’s injury. I’m not one to mince my words, so here it is: Kobe Bryant would not have sustained that injury had Phil Jackson been in charge.
How could you continue to give Kobe huge minutes when it was clear that his body was undoubtedly going to succumb to injury sooner or later? it baffles me. He is in his 17th season and is 34 years of age. I know the playoffs is huge, and Kobe is the key to the Lakers snatching that 8th spot, but I would rather finish 9th and have a fit Kobe Bryant ready to go HAM next year rather than go out against the top seed in the first round of the playoffs. Miami took time to gel. You can’t expect immediate success just because your lover-boy Steve Nash and D12 both came to LA. Iron out the creases in the ‘seven seconds or less’ offense and build for next year. I hope, I really do, that the Lakers beat the Spurs (or OKC) and get a good playoff run, but sadly Kobe’s injury looks to have ended those hopes.
I truly hope you read this letter and respond. I am very interested to gain an insight into the mind of a man who is clearly urinating against the wind. I am aware LAL can’t keep the same roster next year, with Pau being earmarked as surplus to requirements. If Pau is amnestied as a result of your inability to use him to full effect, then you can expect a letter every day until you respond I don’t think you are the right man to lead the Lakers, but I hope I’m wrong.
Regards,
Richard Barrett
SportIsEverything.com
