NBA Season Predictions, Standings 2013-2014: The Los Angeles Lakers finally announced that Future Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant will miss the remainder of the 2013-14 season due to the lingering effects from his left tibial fracture.
All year long, the Lakers has been plagued by injury, fans expected that this season will be a strong comeback year for Kobe Bryant and his backcourt buddy Steve Nash, unfortunately, both were unable to maintain their health and sat out majority of their games this season. The Lakers were even forced to compete in a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers where the referees have to let one of their fouled-out players (Robert Sacre) for the ball game to continue.
Though this might not be the head coach's fault, Kobe Bryant expressed his displeasure towards their current head coach Mike D'Antoni. Last year, the Lakers were expected to be one of the top dogs in the Western Conference because of the addition of Superstar Dwight Howard. But things turned out bad and last year's team did not live up to the hype. This season, the Lakers are in the bottom of the team standings and will likely miss the playoffs.
According to several sources, the Lakers management and Kobe Bryant have agreed to an understanding that a new coach should be in place for next season:
"I had a source tell me last night [that] Mike D'Antoni is gone at the end of the season. He won't be there [...] I'm just telling you, that's the word coming out of L.A."
"It's not coming from the Lakers themselves, but people close to the organization say that Mike D'Antoni is gone because there's no way that [Carmelo Anthony] would elect to go there if D'Antoni is there. If D'Antoni is gone, with the cap room they have coming up and Kobe's imminent return, [L.A.] is a viable option [for Anthony]."
Mike D'Antoni and Carmelo Anthony, as most NBA fans would remember, did not have the nicest relationship. A coach that quit on his team partway through the 2011-12 season, but the real reason Carmelo Anthony doesn't want to go to the Lakers is because he's also have to give up tens of millions of dollars to do so, while playing alongside a recovering 35-year old Bryant.
Multiple sources also told Sporting News that the reason for D'Antoni's potential dismissal is closer to franchise star guard Kobe Bryant.
Bryant, sources said, has "no interest" in playing for D'Antoni next season, and wants a new coach in place for the 2014-15 season.
What do you think NBA fans? Will this be a good or bad decision for the Lakers management? Let us know!
