Magic Johnson makes Lakers’ Mike D’Antoni his latest target

Magic Johnson torched his favorite team again, telling “Tonight Show� host Jay Leno on Monday night the Lakers were in a bind because of “some critical mistakes.�

The biggest of those mistakes, according to Johnson? Hiring Coach Mike D’Antoni instead of Phil Jackson early last season.

“He don’t teach defense,� Johnson said. “I can’t stand to watch the Lakers play because the same play happens every single time on the Lakers -- pick and roll and the guard goes all the way in for a layup.

“What are we, 40-something games into the season? The teams run the same play on us. We haven’t stopped it yet. Uh, duh.�

D’Antoni, whose team has given up at least 100 points in 12 consecutive games, declined to address Johnson’s comments Tuesday morning at his team’s shoot-around.

“Next subject,� D’Antoni said.

Johnson, who recently ripped Lakers executive Jim Buss for what Johnson characterized as a series of bad decisions, said his admiration for D’Antoni was conditional.

“Coach D’Antoni, I like him when he was with Phoenix,� Johnson said. “We’re the Lakers. We’ve got to have a championship coach. We made a critical mistake in not bringing Phil Jackson back.�

Johnson also said the Lakers needed to make themselves more attractive to a free-agent class this summer that could include LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Carmelo Anthony.

“We have to make sure we’re headed in a championship direction because none of those guys are going to come here if we’re not about winning a championship,� said Johnson, who won five titles in his 13 seasons with the Lakers.

“And the Lakers have always been about winning a championship, so I hope they get back on course.�