HoopsHype.com Rumors

Dwain Price: "Obviously he can play better. He has been the MVP twice, so we’ve all seen that.'' -- Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni on point guard Steve Nash Twitter @DwainPrice

Los Angeles Lakers, Steve Nash, Mike D'Antoni 

Mike Bresnahan: Jodie Meeks (sprained ankle) did not take part in Lakers practice today but should be available for Wednesday's game, D'Antoni said. Twitter @Mike_Bresnahan

Los Angeles Lakers, Mike D'Antoni, Injuries, Jodie Meeks 

Also, Patrick asks him how he felt about Kobe Bryant tweeting during the game. D’Antoni’s too smart to say anything negative about the 800 pound gorilla of the Lakers organization. NBCSports.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Mike D'Antoni 

D'Antoni rolled his eyes when asked about Kobe tweeting to get the ball inside, muttering: "It's great to ... have that commentator." Sulia

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Mike D'Antoni 

D'Antoni said they tried to get the ball inside. Then he tried to clean it up, saying it's fine that Kobe is tweeting: "He's a fan right now. You guys put a little bit more importance on that kind of fan. ... He wants to be part of it, so that's good." Sulia

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Mike D'Antoni 

Arash Markazi: Bad choice of words by D'Antoni. He's playing it off but you can tell Kobe was not happy being called "a fan." Twitter @ArashMarkazi

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Mike D'Antoni 

Kevin Ding: D'Antoni on how much Spurs have beaten him over the years: "I've had therapy." Twitter @KevinDing

Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, Mike D'Antoni 

Janis Carr: D'Antoni when asked about Kupchak comments about him being back next season: "Whatever happens, happens." Twitter @janiscarr

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni 

On Friday, Kobe Bryant got a visit from Lakers Vice President Jim Buss, General Manager Mitch Kupchak and Coach Mike D'Antoni. Bryant is still on crutches, recovering from April 13 surgery to repair a torn left Achilles' tendon. The Lakers All-Star guard uploaded a picture to his Instagram account with the caption, "Got a few more visitors today ... Jimmy B, Mitch K and Mike D. We talked about the season, next season and more importantly about the strategy for this upcoming series #lakerfam #amnestywho?? Lol #coachvino." Bryant is expected to be out for six to nine months. Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Mitch Kupchak, Mike D'Antoni, Injuries, Jim Buss 

Jessica Camerato: #Knicks Mike Woodson and #Lakers Mike D’Antoni named #NBA Eastern and Western Conference Coaches of the Month (April). Twitter @JCameratoNBA

Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Mike Woodson, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni 

Lakers Coach Mike D'Antoni will be back next season, General Manager Mitch Kupchak said Wednesday. "Yeah, he's back. I think he's done a great job," Kupchak told The Times. "There's been no discussions otherwise. "He's made adjustments. He's been flexible. He's evaluated how he coaches as the season's progressed. He's listened to the players. He's very easy to work with and we think in particular since the meeting the day of the Memphis game, yeah." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Mitch Kupchak, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni 

The Lakers have remained patient with D'Antoni. "Much has been made of the injuries, and the coaching change [in November] and no training camp, which is certainly a part of it," Kupchak said of their up-and-down season. "It takes a while. You're in New York coaching and you see the Lakers once or twice a year, you don't know the personnel. And the injury situation when he got here, Steve Nash had the broken leg. There's just too much going on to really look at it any other way." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Mitch Kupchak, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni 

Arash Markazi: D'Antoni on who takes the last shot with Kobe out: "We'll run a play and the ball will find whoever's open." Twitter @ArashMarkazi

Los Angeles Lakers, Mike D'Antoni 

But while D'Antoni has as much sympathy for Bryant as anyone after he tore the Achilles tendon in his left foot on Friday night and is expected to miss at least six months, he doesn't agree with those who see it as direct result of the excessive playing time and said he would "probably do it again" if faced with the same situation. "It was the decision that we had to make at the time, and it was the decision (that was made) with Kobe," D'Antoni told USA TODAY Sports on Sunday before his team hosted San Antonio. "He was very insistent on it. I was a little reluctant, but he said he could do it. He felt great. "We kept checking every day with the trainers and him — where are ya? How are ya? What are you doing? And to be honest with ya, I don't think one has anything to do with the other." USA Today Sports

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Mike D'Antoni, Injuries 

Speaking to the media for the first time since Kobe Bryant tore his left Achilles tendon Friday in Los Angeles, Nets interim coach P.J. Carlesimo came to the defense of Mike D’Antoni Sunday afternoon before the Nets faced the Raptors. “Sure,” Carlesimo said when asked if Bryant’s injury impacted his thought process about playing his stars in the season’s final few games. “But guys get hurt in practice. “It’s an unfortunate thing. I think the bigger thing, the one that really hurts, is late in the game. That’s the one you agonize over. How big a lead is a safe lead, when do you get guys off the floor? … That’s the one you really can’t afford to have people in there when it’s unnecessary. “When you’re playing for a playoff position, and in particular you’re playing a guy that would play 48 minutes if you’d let him, I think there’s been a lot of unfair commentary directed towards Mike. The only way you get Kobe off the floor is if you pull him off the floor.” New York Post

Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, Kobe Bryant, Injury, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, Injuries, PJ Carlesimo 

Los Angeles Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni told news reporters at Sunday's shootaround that point guard Steve Nash will not play Sunday against the San Antonio Spurs. USA Today Sports

Los Angeles Lakers, Steve Nash, Mike D'Antoni, Injuries 

"I don't think Mike is at blame here," Kupchak said. "Even if you take Kobe out of a game, there's a lot of times where he'll just get up and put himself back in." Long Beach Press-Telegram

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni 

D'Antoni conceded that scenario might not have happened if not for the Lakers (43-37) entering tonight's game against San Antonio with only a one-game lead over Utah (42-38) for the Western Conference's eighth and final playoff spot with two games remaining. "I would have thought about it if we were comfortably in the playoffs," D'Antoni said. "When you're trying to win at all costs, sometimes you make decisions that "Ehhh, maybe it would've been better if not.' But at the time, you don't know what was going to happen." Long Beach Press-Telegram

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni 

Bryant needed someone to save him from himself, and Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni didn't have the strength to do it. Bryant mocked the suggestion this could've been his final game in the NBA, that his career could've come crashing down on Friday night. Before Bryant ripped that Lakers uniform off his back at Staples Center, he was talking comeback, talking about studying those who had returned fastest from Achilles injuries, and doing it even faster. Yahoo! Sports

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Mike D'Antoni, Injuries, Tim Grover 

Did the decision by Kobe and Mike D'Antoni not to rest contribute to this severe injury? D'Antoni said: "I will ... second-guess it and look at it, but he is an incredible competitor and it happened -- and we will go forward." About all the playing time recently being an issues to debate, D'Antoni said: "It is like putting my head against a wall, and he just wouldn't budge on it. And there is a part of me that didn't want him to budge, because he's incredible. It is one of those things." Sulia

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Mike D'Antoni, Injuries