Mike D’Antoni Explains Decision To Play Howard, Bench Gasol Last Season

Denver Nuggets v Los Angeles LakersLast season did not go as planned and was filled with unmet expectations. As the Lakers organization, team and fans are poised and ready to move on to next season with different expectations, certain decisions and moves are now being surfaced from last season, especially concerning Dwight Howard.

Last season, Dwight Howard was met with high expectations from the Lakers and the fans, even with the acknowledgment that his back wasn’t 100 percent. After all, that comes with the territory of being a Laker, which is also why the Lakers are the Lakers.

—- Test your knowledge of Pau Gasol by taking this quiz about the Lakers big man! —-

Therefore, Howard consumed a lot of the spotlight as many thought he had the potential to be the future of the franchise. This also played a major factor is Mike D’Antoni’s decision to play Howard over Pau Gasol, even benching Gasol frequently in key moments of games. D’Antoni explained that decision to Dave McMenamin of ESPNLA, saying:

“There was just a lot of factors last year that won’t come up this year,” D’Antoni said. “I even told (Gasol), you make decisions based a lot of times on the future that probably, if you were just doing the competitive, basketball thing, the decision would have been something else.”

Gasol echoed that sentiment by saying:

“Obviously the franchise wanted Dwight to stay and everyone, or a lot of people, tried to make him comfortable and please him at times.”

Now that Howard is in Houston, and the Lakers are moving on from last season’s drama-filled year, Pau Gasol will be returning to the center position where he will be featured in an expected more fluid offense. Gasol’s health should be more consistent and sustainable, which strengthens the idea that he is poised for a much improved season.

Steve Nash also anticipate a more efficient and fluid offense with Gasol featured down low. D’Antoni is planning to runs many pick-and-rolls, where Gasol can either receive the pass for his own scoring opportunity or make a pass as Gasol has the basketball IQ that allows him to make the right plays.

Expectations for this season’s Lakers may be drastically different than last year, but all is not lost with the purple and gold. With solid acquisitions this offseason and a hopefully healthy squad, only time will tell just how this Lakers team will turn out.

————————————————————————————————————————–

Did you see that some of the 2013-14 schedule leaked? If not, check it out below and don’t forget to click here to subscribe to our YouTube Channel!

You May Also Like

Time Warner Cable SportsNet, DirecTV Still Far From A Deal

The Los Angeles Lakers will play their fifth game of the 2012-13…

Lakers News: JR Smith Focused On Making Impact Defensively

Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel wasted no time getting all the new faces involved throughout the first…

Lakers News: Alex Caruso Recalls First Gaining LeBron James’ Trust

The Los Angeles Lakers found success during the 2019-20 season largely on the shoulders of their two…

Shaquille O’Neal Picks Kobe Bryant Over LeBron James

The NBA Finals are set to begin Thursday with the Golden State…