Mike D’Antoni optimistic he will return next season

Los Angeles Lakers head coach Mike D'Antoni during a press conference held at the Toyota Sports Center,  El Segundo Calif., Friday, April 18,  2014.  (Photo by Stephen Carr / Daily Breeze)

Los Angeles Lakers head coach Mike D’Antoni during a press conference held at the Toyota Sports Center, El Segundo Calif., Friday, April 18, 2014.
(Photo by Stephen Carr / Daily Breeze)

Despite overseeing the Lakers’ worst record in franchise history since moving to Los Angeles, coach Mike D’Antoni expressed optimism he will return next season.

“I have one or two years left and I’m their coach,” D’Antoni said. “We’ll sit down and see if everybody is in good shape. It hasn’t been done yet.”

Click below the jump for the other bullet points:

-D’Antoni plans to meet with general manager Mitch Kupchak and executive Jim Buss sometime after the Easter holiday
-D’Antoni refused to lean on the persisting injuries and depleted personnel as an excuse:
-“Every NBA coach who comes off a year that no one is happy and goes sideways, every coach is under scrutiny. They’re even under it when they go well.”
-D’Antoni on theory that his fast-paced system contributed to injuries: “To me its ludicrous. TO me the pace of play and spread the floor leads to less injuries because you don’t pound and hit.”
-D’Antoni on Kobe, Pau not liking his system: “Most people commenting on it is shaping have played a different way.”
-D’Antoni on poor defense: “That definitely has to be improved no doubt. That comes with guys playing with each other a long time and getting a sense of swagger and playing well and defensive energy levels and playing the guys who are defensive minded. It’s making sure getting people in the right spots and defense comes from the energy and awareness that you have.”
-D’Antoni is optimistic Nash will do everything he can to return, but conceded uncertainty about his health
-On if he should return: “It’s not up to me to make a judgement one way or the other. My job is to do the job as great as I can.”
-D’Antoni went to great lengths in defending his system in saying that matches how the NBA has evolved. Said he’s open toward making adjustments, but it’s a two-way street.
-Acknowledged butting heads with Kobe Bryant, but said it’s not a big deal

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