D’Antoni Debut Continues To Be Delayed

The Associated Press

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/2012/11/18/lakers-coach-mike-antoni-delays-bench-debut/sEbiVl4zycjkh6UhXyKxtM/story.html

Mike D’Antoni postponed his debut on the Los Angeles Lakers’ bench for at least another game Sunday night, giving the coach a few more days to recover from recent knee replacement surgery.

D’Antoni tentatively planned to take over when the Lakers hosted Houston, exactly a week after the Lakers hired him to replace Mike Brown. Instead, Lakers trainer Gary Vitti and D’Antoni’s wife persuaded him to wait until he can move around a bit better on his new knee.

“I’m anxious to get out there and ready to go, but I don’t want to be a sideshow, ” D’Antoni said.

Interim coach Bernie Bickerstaff led the Lakers against the Rockets. The Lakers went 3-1 in their first week under Bickerstaff, and D’Antoni announced he’ll keep the veteran coach on his staff.

D’Antoni has been getting around without crutches for short distances since he arrived in Los Angeles last week, but the 61-year-old former Knicks and Suns coach isn’t his usual spry self yet. He has attended two workouts with the Lakers, circling the court on crutches and sitting down whenever possible, but finally had to acknowledge he would have trouble on an NBA bench.

D’Antoni Debut Continues To Be Delayed

The Associated Press

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/2012/11/18/lakers-coach-mike-antoni-delays-bench-debut/sEbiVl4zycjkh6UhXyKxtM/story.html

Mike D’Antoni postponed his debut on the Los Angeles Lakers’ bench for at least another game Sunday night, giving the coach a few more days to recover from recent knee replacement surgery.

D’Antoni tentatively planned to take over when the Lakers hosted Houston, exactly a week after the Lakers hired him to replace Mike Brown. Instead, Lakers trainer Gary Vitti and D’Antoni’s wife persuaded him to wait until he can move around a bit better on his new knee.

“I’m anxious to get out there and ready to go, but I don’t want to be a sideshow, ” D’Antoni said.

Interim coach Bernie Bickerstaff led the Lakers against the Rockets. The Lakers went 3-1 in their first week under Bickerstaff, and D’Antoni announced he’ll keep the veteran coach on his staff.

D’Antoni has been getting around without crutches for short distances since he arrived in Los Angeles last week, but the 61-year-old former Knicks and Suns coach isn’t his usual spry self yet. He has attended two workouts with the Lakers, circling the court on crutches and sitting down whenever possible, but finally had to acknowledge he would have trouble on an NBA bench.