Mike D'Antoni has claimed that the Los Angeles Lakers will continue to play with the same pace as they did last season.

The 62-year-old suggested that the Lakers needed to increase their tempo on the court when he took over a year ago, but has now said that there won't be a big change when the new season starts next week.

"It won't be crazy, but we want to push it. It will be a nice pace. We want to get some easy buckets before the defense sets up," D'Antoni told reporters.

"So we'll be up in the top five in pace, that's normal, but it won't be breakneck speed.

"It will be good enough where everybody can catch up. We were third last year so it will be more or less like last year."

The Lakers face their rivals, the Los Angeles Clippers, in their season-opener next Wednesday.