ORLANDO, Fla. — Mind-boggling.
That was the reaction of Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni to Amar’e Stoudemire’s blunt remarks he was “never taught defense’’ in his career before getting a solid defensive coach in the Knicks’ Mike Woodson.
D’Antoni and Stoudemire were together a combined six seasons in Phoenix and New York. Their relationship while with the Suns wasn’t too good. It got better when D’Antoni coached the Knicks. Now Stoudemire’s dagger has sent it off the rails again.
“I don’t think he meant it bad, but it’s mind-boggling,’’ D’Antoni said Friday after Lakers practice.
Asked what Stoudemire meant, D’Antoni said: “Come on. He just threw [former Phoenix coach] Frank Johnson, myself, [and current Suns coach] Alvin Gentry [under the bus]. Actually, Mike Woodson, [was] he saving the good stuff? He was the defensive coach [last year]. I’ll save that until I really coach him. That doesn’t make any sense.’’
A reporter asked how Shawn Marion and Raja Bell, also D’Antoni students, became good defenders.
“It just boggles the mind,’’ D’Antoni said. “It just boggles the mind.’’
Maybe Stoudemire took his swipe because he was annoyed at D’Antoni’s recent remarks he regretted leaving Phoenix for New York because it meant leaving behind Steve Nash. There was no mention of leaving Stoudemire. The remark was a double whammy because D’Antoni and Stoudemire were later reunited in New York.
“A lot of times players say things to say things,’’ D’Antoni said. “I have a good relationship with [Stoudemire] and he’s a good guy. I hope the best for him. If he’s learning, great.’’
Stoudemire said last season Gentry was the first coach to teach him defense and after the season blamed D’Antoni for his lack of a post game.
* Tonight’s game in Orlando is Stoudemire’s first in his hometown since his brother, Hazell Stoudemire, was killed in a car crash Feb. 6.
Stoudemire will honor his brother by inviting 30 kids from nearby Lake Wales, his birthplace, to the game, providing tickets and transportation and a meeting with him afterward. Yesterday was Hazell’s birthday…. Orlando has lost seven straight since Glen Davis went down with a shoulder sprain.
* Pablo Prigioni, now a key reserve in point guard Raymond Felton’s absence, had a classic nine-assist, one-turnover outing in Thursday’s 100-83 win over the Spurs.
“I will play my best until Ray comes back and when Ray comes back I go back to my role on the team,’’ Prigioni said. “I will give the team all I can until then.’’
Woodson wants to get Prigioni’s minutes to 20 a night so he can keep 39-year-old starting point guard Jason Kidd’s minutes under 30, likely because of back concerns.