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Want to impress your friends with D'Antoni knowledge today? Check out this fact sheet about ol' Mustache Mike ...

Courtesy of ESPN Stats & Information: - This is the 4th NBA head coaching job for D’Antoni, who has five playoff appearances as a head coach but has never been to the NBA Finals. The Lakers passed on rehiring Phil Jackson, who made the playoffs in all 20 of his seasons as head coach and has won 11 NBA titles. TOP THINGS TO KNOW 1. The Lakers had the opportunity to rehire Jackson, who had led the Lakers to five NBA titles in his 11 seasons with the team. Mike D’Antoni last won a playoff series in 2007 and has never led a team to the NBA Finals. 2. D’Antoni has the reputation as being a purely offensive coach, but the defensive numbers for his teams in PHX were skewed by the Suns’ high tempo. In his final season with NYK, their defense was more efficient than their offense. 3. D’Antoni will be reunited with Steve Nash. Both were in Phoenix from 2004-08, and the Suns won 73 percent of their games with Nash on the floor during that time. Without Nash, D’Antoni has won less than 40 percent of the time. 4. Teams coached by D’Antoni have had success running the pick & roll, which should benefit Dwight Howard. Howard has been the most efficient roll man in the NBA over the last three seasons, but had struggled in limited opportunities so far this year. * During his last season with the Knicks, they were more efficient on the defensive end than on offense. Team Offensive & Defensive Efficiency Under Mike D'Antoni, Since 2004-05 Team Off Eff Rank Def Eff Rank 2011-12 Knicks 23rd 10th 2010-11 Knicks 5th 21st 2009-10 Knicks 15th 27th 2008-09 Knicks 17th 24th 2007-08 Suns 1st 16th 2006-07 Suns 1st 13th 2005-06 Suns 1st 16th 2004-05 Suns 1st 16th >>232-96 with Suns from 2004-08; 121-167 with Knicks from 2008-present * The last time the Lakers hired a coach who had not reached the NBA Finals was when they hired Randy Pfund before the 1992-93 season (Pfund had no prior head coaching experience). * If you think Mike D'Antoni missed coaching Steve Nash, then you would be correct. According to Elias, D'Antoni recorded .733 career winning percentage and outscored opponents by a +7.1 margin in games he's coached that Nash played for him. In games he's coached where Nash did not play, D'Antoni has recorded just a .385 career win percentage.