a whole lot easier = much easier
on a pre-season day 前面缺主语和谓语
when 是连词,接后面的从句
it was a whole lot easier to say the right things in the company of reporters than to do them a month later in the company of the Heat
原句太复杂,
但从句可以这样看：
[saying the right things in the company of reporters] 主语
[was] 谓语
[a lot easier than saying them a month later in the company of the Heat] 宾语