From the opening minutes onward, D’Antoni’s team looked exhausted. But he refused to lengthen the rotation. Afterward, players openly admitted to being exhausted, but their coach stuck to his guns, which sparked the ire of many critics. 
But was the scorn deserved?
Absolutely.
Look, I understand why D’Antoni is reluctant to play Chris Duhon, Darius Morris and Robert Sacre. (I don’t even count Devin Ebanks, who’s so buried at this point it’s a wonder he even wears a uniform under his warmups.) The guards were once members of the rotation, a period of time when the Lakers lost a lot of games. The rookie center isn’t ready for prime time yet. They’re not ideal options. Then again, neither is banking on players clearly running on fumes.
Whatever D’Antoni hoped to get from his regulars was a long shot due to fatigue, so why not allow rotation players 8-11 give them a breather? At best, they hold serve while the principals rest a few minutes and perhaps get a second wind. At worst, it doesn’t help and the Lakers lose a game they were on track to lose anyway. But at least be proactive in trying to get the best from players you actually trust.
By refusing to adjust, it felt like D’Antoni was going down with the ship for the sake of doing so.
– Andy Kamenetzky
SACRAMENTO KINGS (24-44)
When the Kings moved rookie Thomas Robinson to the Houston Rockets at the deadline, the general reaction was outrage. Considering how mixed a bag their recent crop of youngsters have been, giving up so quickly on a fifth overall pick – particularly in part for what appears to be financial reasons – struck most as unfathomable and unconscionable. And that may in fact be the case.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean Sacto received nothing in the exchange.
Since arriving at the state’s capital, third-year forward Patrick Patterson has acquitted himself nicely. In two recent games as a starter filling in for an injured DeMarcus Cousins, he reached double figures in each outing, with 22 points in the latter. Through 10 March games, Patterson is averaging 10 points on 55 percent shooting from the field and a ridiculous 64.3 percent from downtown, along with five rebounds and 1.3 dimes.
Obviously, the 3-point clip is due for a steep drop, unless the former Wildcat is coming into his own as the greatest shooter of all-time. But it’s not necessarily a total fluke, either. Patterson shot a credible 36.5 percent from behind the arc in Houston this season, after launching a combined five treys in his two previous campaigns, all missed. Clearly, he’s grown comfortable launching from deep, perhaps a sign his game will continue to expand with more experience.
That’s not to say Patterson is destined to become the star presumably envisioned by the Kings while drafting Robinson last July. But considering the miserable path this franchise has traveled of late, that a solid young player could be theirs to groom is reason enough for smiles.
– AK
Brian and Andy Kamenetzky are sportswriters and radio hosts who have worked in sports media for over a decade. They have covered the Lakers and the NBA for eight seasons, for both the LATimes.com and ESPN.com, as well as ESPN The Magazine. Follow them on Twitter at @KamBrothers.
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