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Last Year’s Lakers are Back in 132-114 Loss to the Kings

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There is not really much to say about Friday night’s game against the Kings. The Lakers were bad, the Kings were not. The 132-114 margin of defeat reflects that, but also all the little things which go into winning, or, in this case, losing, basketball.

The missed rotations, the easy allowance of dribble penetration, the lack of helping the helper, the shoddy work on the glass, the bad shot selection, the sloppy execution, the poor screens being set, and so many other things that I’m just going to stop trying to explain it. When you give up 132 points, you did too much wrong. Scoring 114 may look nice, but it’s really just the shiny object on the ground to distract you from the fact you’re about to walk into a wall.

Analyzing this game for what it was, then, isn’t important. The Lakers were bad. Why they were bad are reasons we already knew about — or at least had strong hints at after opening night:

*The Lakers are a bad defensive team. Their guards and wings don’t defend well enough to protect Hibbert enough so he can protect them back.

*Kobe’s shot selection has been, for lack of a better word, awful. After taking 13 threes (making 3) on opening night, he shot 8 against the Kings (making 1). So, 21 of his 36 field goal attempts this year have been three pointers. By the way, he was 4-4 from two-point range.

*Brandon Bass is probably overmatched at center. He’s certainly overmatched when guarding DeMarcus Cousins.

I could go on, but in terms of recurring things, that’s probably enough. Contributing to the Kings loss was the fact that Julius Randle was also quite poor all over the floor while Lou Williams wasn’t his usual spark off the bench as a scorer. Add it all up and you get the score of the game. It’s not that difficult.

For me, then, the more interesting thing which came out of the game was Byron Scott calling his team soft. Not because that’s some groundbreaking thing, but because it’s exactly the opposite. Byron has a history of using this particular dig and if you follow me on twitter, you’ll know exactly what I mean by that. Byron added to his soft critique, noting his team was not prepared to play against the Kings.

My thoughts on this are two fold. First, it is Byron’s job to make sure his team is ready to play. If they’re not ready, it reflects poorly on him not just on the players.

Second, Scott breaking out the “soft” and “not ready to play” comments after the 2nd game — an embarrassing blowout loss — doesn’t surprise, but it does tell me that as much as the Lakers are a “new” team, they’re currently very much like last year’s team. Why? Because they’re coached by the same dude.

As the old saying goes, a team is often the reflection of their coach. Do not mistake this to mean I am calling Byron Scott soft. What I am saying, though, is that the characteristics he rails against in his post game pressers are, at least somewhat, a product of his own coaching. How can they not be?  This year’s Lakers rotation has essentially been 10 players. Of those 10 players, only 3 — Clarkson, Ryan Kelly, and Nick Young — are holdovers. Kobe & Randle missed most of the year, Hibbert, Lou, Russell, Huertas, and Bass are new to the team.

While the team is new, last year’s Lakers are back. And it showed in a blowout loss to the Kings.


Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Lakafan says

    Like I asked in a previous post, if lakers start 0-5, will BS be canned? He should but the issue is who will take over? The same ol crap from him about calling out players is getting old. How about you take some of the blame Byron for playing bass at center against dmc and getting your guys ready to play??

  3. J C says

    Aghast. Appalled. Astonished. Ashamed.

    If the team loses like this for the next few games, I wouldn’t be surprised if they cut Byron loose sooner than expected.
    I originally thought he had a pass for at least this whole season but in two games we’ve quickly waded into ‘Mike Brown waters’.

    Many posters on this site were fairly excited about the possibilities on this roster even if they didn’t translate into wins early on. The air is out of that balloon already.

    Byron calling his team soft when he’s the guy in charge is cowardly. He’s supposed to prep the team. And since we aren’t playing D, why not give Metta some burn? Is he injured? Where is Nance?
    Why only sparing minutes for Black?

    Defense can be coached.
    Effort can be inspired.
    We gave up 80 points in the paint?!

    Ironically I was impressed with Ryan Kelly’s efforts but pairing him with Bass is a joke. Bass looks like a fish out of water for some reason. (Get it?)

    The Byron countdown begins.
    Mitch and Jim have too much at stake to endure this for long. They’ll give him the axe soon if this continues. I think the over-under should be around 30 games but at this rate he may not make it past 10.

  4. Gene says

    Randle in foul trouble and only 16 minutes didn’t help.Huertas,Kelly and Bass are 3 below average players.You can’t have those 3 in a lineup when the other team is going big.I would love to see Nance instead of Kelly.

  5. Mitch says

    He needs to play Metta.
    Kelly needs to play in China.
    You need to explain to me why your site is called blue gold. They wear purple. It drives me crazy

  8. Robert says

    I know it is early, but this is looking very bad. Our early schedule is “soft” and if we do poorly during this period it is going to be a very long season. Yes – we are young at some positions so that will improve – but wow I did not expect this bad (so far). I agree with Darius that KB has been way less than stellar especially in his shot selection. I also agree that Byron’s comments in the media do not help. What I do not agree with is the focus on Byron (not just Darius – but in general). This team was clearly outmatched last night by a Kings team that is not predicted to whiff the playoffs. Coaching can’t fix that. It can make it worse and perhaps it is/will. However Scott could morph himself into Phil or Pat and we are still going to be a very bad roster. And – yes – ” the same dude” is coaching the team, and that is because the “same dude” is running the team.

  9. Corey says

    Forget offensively, it seems to me that the league has passed byron defensively. Or maybe he was never caught up. Rondo destroyed or guards because they played up on him like he was a threat to shoot or something. That has got to be in game plan cuz they never changed the approach. Thats a very simple coverage note. And then why would you insult boogie by bringing in Bass and Kelly to guard him. That stretch looked like the fight scene from dangerous minds where Emilio was throwing Raul and his buddy around like rag dolls.

  10. Marques says

    Byron Scott is not a good coach. BUT….he is not the reason they are soft. They all were soft before they were Lakers…..which is the reason they are Lakers now.

    If anything Byron is responsible for running an outdated offense that does not work in today’s game.

    Anything that doesn’t start with pick and roll or kobe on the block is plain stupid. You are asking for bad 3 pointers and long 2 pointers.

  11. Hale says

    News: “Car crash on Figueroa”
    Robert: “Get rid off of Jim Buss”
    Robert, come on, man. The answer to every Lakers problem can’t be Jim Buss. It’s like reading ESPN or Sid in reference to Kobe.

    BCS: You should be happy. Kobe basically announced that he’s going on a diet by letting the kids take the heat for this year. He used the term “develop”.

  12. Teamn says

    Serious question for Darius and posters — would it be better to run a truly uptempo offense with the young guys on the floor? Would that play to their strengths more? I realize it would be tough the way the roster is constructed to figure out starters vs non-starters, and Kobe is an obvious problem, but it seems like trying to meld this group into one style is not working. That’s obviously a roster construction issue (FO), but are there things Byron can do to encourage growth and simplify the game?

  14. 24hrx. says

    For future Championships purposes, this season should have been all about Russell, Clarkson, Brown, Randle, & Upshaw getting 40 minutes of burn per game under Thibs. 82 games later, we’d still have our draft pick, and a lot more roster answers than questions going into 2016-2017. However, the NBA being a business first, second, and third, and the FO can’t come out and confirm it, hopefully The Lakers’ plan is to “soft tank” again this year, and keep that pick, while Kobe tries to get his; B.Scott needs to stay the rest of the year because he’s doing an excellent job in accommodating that regardless of a plan. That having been said, Randle needs to play more than 16 minutes in a blow-out loss…wtf?! ..and don’t say foul trouble, let him foul out.

  16. Vasheed says

    1. The Lakers best perimeter players player at this point is probably A. Brown. It would make sense to find some minutes for him.

    2. I hate to beat a dead horse but we cut Upshaw to keep Black and Sacre. Yet we are featuring Bass as the back up center. When Hibbert sits this teams defense goes to zero. Considering the team’s lack of perimeter defense the Lakers need a shot blocker at Center. While Upshaw is far from flawless he represents a shot blocker at Center while Sacre and Black do not.

    3. It seems like we did not learn our lesson from last year. Forcing Kelly to play SF last year did him no favors. Forcing Bass to play Center is doing him no favors. You might want to get more time for them but forcing them to play out of position is not the answer.

  18. Walid says

    If I hear Byron Scott say ” simple as that ” or ” that’s the bottom line ” one more time I’ll never watch another lakers game

  19. Jimbo says

    I want to see how long before Byron Scott is fired as coach. Mike Brown definitely did better before he was fired.

  20. R says

    Can’t speak for Big City, but “hate” of Kobe sounds very strong.
    I’ll speak for myself, though.
    All things must pass.

  21. Todd says

    This is what you get when for the third summer in a row you change over such a large portion of the roster. Previously the FO chose to load the roster with former 1st round cast offs. This past summer they went for vets (Hibbert, Bass, Williams). But they used the same criteria: one year left on Hibbert’s deal, team option on Bass for year two and 3 years on Williams ( the only one with trade value).

    Of course the above was done to maintain cap flexibility for free agents. The only problem is that making ‘upcoming free agency’ the Lakers on-going strategy is that it tends to build ill fitting current rosters. Of course that creates problems on the floor which appears to be happening again to this year’s team?

    The NBA is ruthless when you have one objective, namely winning. It’s virtually impossible when you have multiple goals: win now, develop the kids and maintain cap flexibility.

    The FO has put the organization in a no win situation.

  22. Clay Bertrand says

    Byron and Kobe are both so full of crap it isn’t worth listening to either guy!!

    Byron is so full of himself he criticizes HIS players from the OUTSIDE as if he had nothing to do with the way they are. No PERSONAL accountability whatsoever. As Darius HILARIOUSLY illustrated in his Tweets, when Byron’s teams suck, he plays the “SOFT” card. The Card has been played and played and played and PLAY IT AGAIN BYRON!!!! It’s like calling your kids SPOILED BRATS, or calling your dog POORLY TRAINED!!! It’s like publicly telling the world that YOU PERSONALLY SUCK by blaming those around you that you have control over insted of yourself.

    KOBE Costanza was supposed to be KNOWN for his masterful footwork in the post and it has been advertised that he would LIVE in the Mid Post creating shots for himself and his teammates when the double teams come. Alas, all he does is LITERALLY CHUCK 3 balls from all angles!! After game 1 he said himself that 13 threes was “too much” so he dialed it down to 8???????!!!!!!!!!!!! Did he NOT KNOW he was shooting 3s??!??!?!?

    Also, what’s with this quote,”My legs still aren’t there yet in terms of timing and 3-point shots, but [Friday night], I felt I played much better,” ?????? Is this supposed to be a JOKE!?!?!?!?!

    If your “legs still aren’t there in terms of timing and 3-point shots”, please for the love of god STOP TAKING THEM THEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You don’t need 21 TEST SHOTS to tell you your legs aren’t there!!!!!!!!!!! It’s like Byron blaming the players for being soft. KOBE IS BLAMING HIS LEGS!?!?!?!?!?!?!? C’mon maannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.

    AND Can’t we get our butts kicked WITH our young guys ON THE FLOOR!?!?!!? Why does Russell SIT THE WHOLE 4th QTR!??!?!?!? What’s worse, Kobe is now calling on the YOUNG GUYS to “call the game” and everything. How is Russell supposed to “CALL THE GAME” when Kobe is just sabotaging it from 3???? How is he supposed to call the game from the bench??????!!!!!

    Finally, Kelly is NOT the downfall of this team. True his 3 pt shot has left him again but he isn’t playing bad!!!! Its BASS!!! He was a redundantly useless pick up and he CERTAINLY is NOT A 5!!!!!! Especially against the Kings having 2–TWO SEVEN FOOTERS on the floor together so often!!! Between Cousins, Koufos and Cauley-Stein what was BASS doing out there?????!?!!?!?!?

    If we are going to suck this bad just play the young guys all game and don’t even call plays!!!

    As JC so eloquently put it, It REALLY DOES feel like we have “waded into Mike Brown waters…” now we are stuck in the SOFT SCOTT SWAMP!!!!!!!!!

  23. Keith says

    i know it’s early. However, I hope Jeanie is inclined to say ‘NO’ to Jim’s request for another year.

    There appears to be a high correlation to Jim’s stewardship in the FO and Lakers futility on the floor.

  24. tankyou says

    Don’t forget Scott also said his team “didn’t Man up” to add to his machismo rhetoric that he throws around as post-game analysis. He’s been doing this crap for years. Amazingly, all of Byrons teams for the last 5 years according to him are mostly soft, and certainly not manly.

    Can’t wait to see him go, but unfortunately I can’t see them canning him until the season is over.
    Defense is certainly more than just talent, and defensive coaches sure seem to get more out of modest talent than Byron ever does.

    I’ve been harping on the defensive woes of this team since they finished picking up players in free agency. Because they have less savvy defenders now than they did last year, with the exception of Bass.

    Everyone knew Lou was a small guy with no real defensive value. Bass is certainly in decline and I’ve never seen him try to play Center before this year, but I have seen him play SF before.
    We had guys last year like Ed Davis who provided pretty good rim protection and deterence in the paint. We had Ronnie Price who was a decent back up guy to defend with, Lin had his momenst as well–at least he knew how to play team defense. Even horrible Boozer was vet savvy enough to get away with 5 lower back shoves every game, opening up rebounding and hurting the other teams offensive rebounding–even if its a trashy way of doing it. Ellington was a pretty solid defender as well. But we have Hibbert, and that’s about it apparently if Bass continues to look like a scrub. Clearly the rooks can’t play D yet, and Clarkson really doesn’t impress me and Kobe is just straight up past his expiration date at this point.

    What scares me is we haven’t even gone up against the real offensive threats in the West yet. Man OK Thunder will just bloody kill us, KD and WB could score 100 on us themselves.

  25. Clay Bertrand says

    BREAKING NEWS: Byron Scott RELIEVED of Coaching duties with the Lakers. Mark Madsen to coach remainder of the season. Scott still to have role with the team.

    ****ok I made this up but don’t act like you didn’t believe it when you read it……smh….not a bad bet to happen tho imo

  27. Robert says

    After thinking it through, I am going to join those calling for Byron’s head. The excuse needs to be removed from the equation. Further, the new coach (I have noticed there is a shortage of suggestions here) will no doubt have a honeymoon period. We need to get this off the table this year, so then the 2016 – 2017 season is the “final” put up or get out season for the FO. If we let Byron finish this year, then the 2016 – 2017 season will be looked at as the honeymoon and “if we just give the FO and their new coach a couple more years”, then all will be well. No ! Let’s fire Byron now. Let’s do it Mike Brown style – like 5 games in. The new guy will get a free ride for the rest of this year, but then next year, the same weight will be on his shoulders. Fire Byron !

  28. KevTheBold says

    So tempting to look up, see the dark clouds, and fall into feeling that it’s about to storm.

    Though I do agree that Scott’s stubborn stances, arms folded in defiance and arrogance will be his downfall, the day is young, and we have so much potential still to be unleashed.

    As for our new core, are they soft?

    NO, they are simply getting a taste of what the Lakers have always, and will always be forced to swallow: That bitter soup served in every away stadium and from every team. Full with chunks of jealousy, revenge, hatred, envy, and spiced with auditions.

    D’Angelo especially, as our chosen one,  will get the larger portion.

    The only question is how they handle it?
    If they allow the stew to poison their unity, creating doubt, they are doomed as a core.

    However, the shared pain can also meld them, strengthen them, and produce a weapon the likes of which we Laker fans have seen before.

    So look up, the clouds are ringed by blue, or should I say, purple and gold.

  29. Oldtimer says

    The Coach is just one of the flaws of the Lakers, he is not actively playing on the floor but just advocating. The defenders on the shaded lane were schooled last night and they got into foul trouble. The offense was in shambles bricking every shot so can’t match the firepower exhibited by the Kings. Because of this the young players became submissive that they lost the game at the first quarter and tide along with the enemy. The veterans have the wisdom but no legs to run with the Kings, they too had difficulty to rally the team. If they want to have a successful season, they have to will it and nobody can really help them at this time except themselves. What we saw in the last two games is worst than the scrubs of 2006 & 07. No more Kobe to depend to, he is part of the problems too.

    Bring back Upshaw and play Nance Jr., maybe they could contribute.

  30. tankyou says

    @Robert, COMPLETELY AGREE with you! That logic for the firing makes perfect sense to me. There are many benefits of not waiting until next off-season to hire a new coach. Although, of course you would need to be wise in who the successor is.

    How about we poach Brad Stevens from the Celtics! Perfect win win for a Lakers fan, get a good coach who has shown talent at developing youth, and screw Boston for old times sake!

  31. Vasheed says

    @Clay,
    Unfortunately I could have believed that. I think it is still early but, with their schedule I was expecting at least 5-5 over the first 10 games. If the Lakers fail to get at least 3 wins I would starrt expecting his head.

  33. bluehill says

    Interesting that Brad Stevens comes up. I don’t know what system he is running, but it seems like he has a system that can be successful in the NBA and a front office that is supportive in trying to find players that fit and patient enough to realize that it’s not an overnight fix.

    I don’t recall the Celts going hard after the big name free agents after signing Stevens. It seems like they are looking for players that fit into their system rather than trying to signing the biggest FAs and then build a system around them.

  34. Patrick Lanigan says

    Fire Scott? Good god, no. He’s the perfect coach for this season in that he is best qualified to ensure that we retain our top 3 protected draft pick. I think he’s doing exactly what is needed to ensure that we add another top level young talent on the cheap next year.

  36. matt says

    Just a note on russell, Ohio state did have an easy schedule so maybe that can count as to why he had a 19 point adverage

  37. matt says

    This is what happens when 3 years in a row you sign subpar players to one year deals in hopes to get the big time free agent every year, players need time to develop chemistry and over that time leadership emerges, kobe can’t lead guys he doesn’t know, this new team every year reminds me of the raiders

  38. kevin_ says

    Lakers are paying for a mistake they made a few years ago, not amnestying Kobe. He hasnt lived up to his contract and is holding the lakers back. Lakers could be in year 3/4 of rebuilding had they done that and now it hasnt even started because any team hes on has to at least look competitive.