As we wrote after the Lakers’ loss to Raptors on Friday, the Lakers’ record isn’t what many would like (this includes me), but the level of play and some heartening signs have been visible lately. The young trio of Russell, Clarkson, and Randle played well, the starting lineup has had some good stretches, and Kobe has found a bit of a niche as a playmaker who is looking to attack a bit more than the early season catch-and-shoot (and miss) guy he’s been.
This may not be exactly what we were looking for when the season started, but it’s coming together better than what the first couple of weeks of the campaign hinted at. Well, that’s the hope at least. As with any young team, there is a two steps forward, one step back progression to the season and it would not surprise to see things change up some tonight when the Trailblazers visit Staples Center.
Hopefully not too much, though. Especially when talking about some of the progress the young players are showing. The Blazers offer a dynamite young backcourt and a nice group of young PF’s to match up with the Lakers’ trio of the future.
It starts, of course, with Damian Lillard who is now a bonafide star at point guard. The Oakland native and small school export has become a household name in Portland, showing off a knack for big shot making with a steady (and fiery) demeanor that lends itself well to the Pacific Northwest. He is flanked by another small school product in C.J. McCollum, a player who is finding his stride as a combo guard who can score at all three levels of the floor. McCollum plays with a great understanding of pace and an ability to keep his defender off balance with feints and hesitation dribbles, capitalizing with a smooth jumper and nice work attacking the basket.
This duo will give Russell and Clarkson all they can handle and more. Defensively, there is no rest to be had. Lillard has unlimited range on his jumper and attacks the rim fearlessly. He is an expert at splitting the P&R so it will be important for his defender to get over the top of picks and to have the hedge man in position to challenge the jumper but not be too aggressive or else get blown by off the dribble and surrender straight line drives to the rim.
As for McCollum his work on and off the ball requires a steady attention that the Lakers’ guards can often lack. There can be no ball watching working away from the action nor any relaxing when it seems McCollum isn’t in a position to attack. Whether it is Clarkson or Russell who draws this assignment, awareness and smarts will be as important as being active physically.
The counter to this will be what the Lakers guards do offensively. Russell had his best game of the season on Friday, looking smart, active, and aggressive in how to create scoring chances for himself and his teammates within the framework of the offense. I would imagine he draws Lillard defensively which could mean some openings in the P&R as Lillard is known to get caught on picks and not always recover as well as he needs to. If Russell can get Lillard moving and then picked off, he can start to play 5-on-4 where his shooting and passing can create scoring opportunities.
Clarkson, too, should be able to get his chances both in isolation, coming off picks, and when working in the P&R. Clarkson was not as aggressive on Friday, but I expect that to change tonight. I look for him to continue to attack off the dribble and look to get into the paint where he can create shots for himself and for his big men should they continue to work towards the rim in delayed dives out of the P&R.
I’ve not yet mentioned Randle, but he too should look to be aggressive against his defender. The Blazers offer young, athletic PF’s in Meyers Leonard, Noah Vonleh, and Ed Davis. All three have length and the ability to challenge shots, but Randle has a strength advantage against all three. It will be interesting to see if he can get into the body of any/all of them and then create the needed separation to get his shot off. If he can, he should be able to build on his strong Friday.
Where you can watch: 6:30pm start time on TWC Sportsnet. Also listen on ESPN Radio 710AM.
KevTheBold says
Great insights Darius !
I hope Kobe has firmly decided to embrace his role of being the grease between the gears.
It was good to hear him emphasize to D’Angelo, that the other teams are going at him like fresh meat because of who he is, thus he had better get his defence together.
KO says
1St half with starters out there and Kobe facilitating Lakers were a good team.
Issue was 2nd unit and Kobe clearly played to many minutes.
At this point I see no reason to not play Russell, Randle and Clarkson 38 per game. Also like to see Brown sub in for Kobe as he looked good in D League.
pat oslon says
It’s going to be interesting to see how Randle deals with the length of Ed Davis and Noah Vonleh. Clarkson and Russell will have to pick it up a notch defensively. Portland has always played hard against LA. and is coming in looking to take it to the Lakers..Defense is the key.
Mid-Wilshire says
Here’s a little schadenfreude for Laker fans who (like me) abhor the Clippers. The Clips lost another one today, 91-80 to the Raptors. They are now 6-7 for the season. They have not been playing well. Apparently there was a bit of commotion in their locker room after the game. Enjoy.
http://nba.nbcsports.com/2015/11/22/clippers-have-post-game-locker-room-blowup-after-loss-to-raptors/?ocid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcs
Anonymous says
Re: the Clippers — if they are struggling perhaps they need a shooting forward to help space the floor — time to dump Nick Young.
LKK says
Thanks Mid-W…Clipper turmoil is always welcome!
Fern says
Put this comment in the prior thread by mistake, oh and btw, i agree with you KO (i know i cant believe it either lol) about the minutes on our 3 kids, i don’t know about 38 minutes but 30-35 each would be fine to me, it’s time. *******Ahhh the Clippers, Doc Rivers is the most overrated coach in the entire league, after the DAJ nonsense and that childish emoji was it really cracks me up seeing them struggling, %$&@ them. Good to see our kids having a good game togheter and Kobe playing the role that he must embrace if he really means being a mentor for these kids. But those minutes are murder, Randle is were i thought he would be stat wise 11 and 8 and finally got out of that funk, Clarkson is solid and DAR “the bust” is improving, his is a hair from 40% from the field after starting the season barely hitting 30% better 3 point shooting too, he is in the upswing, like Darius said his assists per game could be better but he is passing within the offense’s framework, im ok with that, but im confident those will go up in time, big test for our backourt tonight but it’s another winnable game. GO LAKERS
Joel says
Seriously…Kobe needs to be tased every time he takes a 3. And his transition D is abominable.
Fern says
Kobe chucking all those 3s is what keeping this team behind, so much for the “mentor” role..
KO says
How long can BS keep Bass in at center. Is he trying to get fired?
KevTheBold says
Well, so far, it looks like Kobe couldn’t resist, and has his gatling gun out again.
Joel says
Anybody else reminded of the “scorpion and the frog” fable with regards to Kobe?
KevTheBold says
Tased,..lol !
KO says
Are you all ok with Kobe hijacking another game? 4 for 14 now 31% on year. And BS just enabling him…
Am I only one bothered?
Joel says
Russell looking good again. Amazingly, the first 2 weeks of his NBA career didn’t doom him to eternal mediocrity! Who’da thunk it?
Joel says
“Are you all ok with Kobe hijacking another game? 4 for 14 now 31% on year. And BS just enabling him…
Am I only one bothered?”
Posted directly below 5 straight comments about Kobe’s shooting, well played.
KevTheBold says
Joel is right, the scorpion & the frog.
Lil pau says
Do the lakers understand that it is permitted within NBA rules to ‘rotate’ to defend a different player? I’m so tired of these end of shotclock layups
Mid-Wilshire says
Bass should NOT be playing the 5. He really shouldn’t. He’s completely out of position. Scott’s man-crush on Bass is beyond me.
Meanwhile, a perfectly solid big who can play the 5 — Tarik Black — is languishing on the bench. Go figure.
KO says
Joel sometimes posts get delayed. Or my fingers are slower then Slow Rpy.
sam says
DAR started to flourish and look much more aggressive/comfortable 12 games into the season… sorry to disappoint all the haters saying hes trash…
not worry about clarkson at all while thinking he should play mainly off the ball as second or third bail-out option, he is very good a creating shots 1-on-1 but sort of a dark hole…
Randle… is struggling… and i dont really like how the offense is flowing when he is in the game, sort of another ball-stopper… maybe shift him to play with the second unit while kobe and DAR is on the bench, and let him be our 6th man same as how we used to play lamar, he would get more chances to take on breaks and create…
Tarick, as well as anthony brown, should get some burn, and Nance should play even more… (yes, take bass and lou out of the rotation completely man, they not doing much out there anyway, i mean, are we REALLY into winning GAMES this season??? really???)
as for our coach’s comment/intention in playing kobe heavy minutes the last two games (in which he played), and the team look much more smooth?? i really have no more to say about this guy (noted i dont even want to mention him by his name anymore)… being a hypocrite on the issue of minute cap for the sake of “trying to win games now” is puzzling… hes hopeless and missing the big picture completely…
Chearn says
Let’s go!!!!!
Tim says
It’s a mild sprain of the left ankle for D’Angelo Russell. He is expected to return after being re-taped in the locker room.
Lil pau says
The mamba biting those who love him
Anonymous says
The Lakers are the cure all for struggling teams.
KO says
Team will never progress or win games with Kobe and Bryon. Another 30% game with most shots on team. Bryon is gutless to pull him and will go down with Kobe ship.
Very sad to see him put hisself in front of the team. As a long time fan its sad.
Mid-Wilshire says
In 22.44 Brandon Bass had 3 rebounds. Also, he provided very little (if any) resistance in the paint. Will this “experiment” ever come to an end? Where is Tarik Black?
harold says
Do you think it’s Kobe’s achilles injury that is causing this or do you think he was done before the injury? I just wish there was an alternate universe where he didn’t blow his achilles…
rr says
The Alternate Universe Lakers have Paul and Howard; Jerry West and Phil Jackson working together peacefully, Magic Johnson as a minority owner, and won another title in 2014, immediately after which Kobe announced his retirement from the stage holding the O’Brien trophy and pointing into the sky at Jerry Buss.
LKK says
Very disappointed with the way Kobe played tonight. To paraphrase Mahatma Ghandi, “Determination is positive, stubbornness is negative.”
KO says
Kobe is hurting the progress of this team.
2013
2014
2015
Warren Wee Lim says
So sad it’s come to this. I can totally see Kobe shut it down and suit up for the final game.
Warren Wee Lim says
On a more X-and-O note, the Lakers offense (nevermind the D) is just atrocious. Dribble handoff on small lineups where the advantage is totally eradicated; post-ups in semi transition and just plan 1-on-1 iso plays. We could atleast teach the basics here.
Anonymous says
Mitch implied playoffs. Jim said the team turned the corner. What gives? Is this a stealth tank or is the FO crazy to think this team would compete.
It’s got to be one or the other.
I hope it’s a stealth tank — if not Jeanie needs to clean house. Because three years in on this rebuild we are still painful to watch.
Chearn says
What happened to not caring about winning or losing as long as the ‘kids’ play? Randle played 31 minutes, Clarkson and Russell played 35 minutes each.
This team was built on its ability to outscore opposing teams, but the team sputters offensively.
Defense wins games!!! Just ask the Warriors, Spurs, and Cleveland.
KO says
Anon. Really. Name one good trade or FA aquired by Mitch/ Jim last 3 years.
As for Jeannie what makes you think she understands talent? Because she hung with Phil?
So Paris Hilton should run Hilton Worldwide?
Dosen’t work that way.
Anonymous says
At what point does losing impact the Lakers bottom line? I think that is the only way Jeanie will act. Until the Cash Cow sputters nothing will change.
rr says
One thing to remember: in pretty much every game the Lakers play, the other team will have at least one guy, and usually more than one guy, who is better, often times far better, than the Lakers’ best player, who is now probably Jordan Clarkson. Lillard tonight is an example.
Also, the Lakers play at Golden State on Tuesday against the 15-0 Warriors, on TNT.
Drrayeye says
It’s a pattern with Kobe–and a very sad one. This can’t go on for the whole season, can it?
james katt says
Still the second worse team in the NBA. Oh well.
It is interesting how well the Knicks are playing versus the Lakers.
Both were pretty bad teams last year.
But the Knicks have more adult supervision than the Lakers.
Obviously, the Lakers could have had Phil Jackson and Derek Fisher. But they blew it.
Renato Afonso says
It’s true that we are rebuilding but I hardly see any improvement in the past three years. If you’re one of the worst teams in the league, it’s expected that you take steps into becoming a better team each year. You go from 20 wins to maybe 25 wins but present a better defense and point differential. You show that you can compete with almost every team in the league (we do not show that, right now). The next year you can get almost 40 wins, if things are stable and steadily improving. Then come the playoffs for a couple of years and then you make a run at the Finals. One does not simply turn into a contender (insert Boromir meme here). We should be near the 40 wins plateau and yet it seems like we’re in the first year. It’s very hard to defend the FO right now.
Slappy says
“I can totally see Kobe shut it down and suit up for the final game.”
As with the Japanese during WWII, it will take Hiroshima, Nagasaki and the USSR’s entry into the war in the east until the realization occurs that the “decisive” battle is lost.
“Mitch implied playoffs. Jim said the team turned the corner. What gives? Is this a stealth tank or is the FO crazy to think this team would compete.”
Recall our man Roland Lazenby. From a piece of his back in 2012, by way of HoopsHype:
In time, the complaints leaked from Jeanie’s side about the supposed ineptitude of Jim. He was a terrible communicator, they said. He didn’t even have an office in the team headquarters, they said. The Lakers will fall apart once he takes over, they said.
And, no, Chaz was never a bartender, but he once was and perhaps still is one third of the scouting staff:
But it’s time to set the record straight. Chaz Osborne is no bartender.
He’s gotten some scrutiny in recent months due to the fact that he’s now one third of the scouting staff for the Lakers.
***
But the friend points out that Chaz, who lives in San Diego and commutes to Lakers offices, is working really hard to become an excellent scout.
Chaz explained to friends that he’s really busy this year because Jim Buss laid off the scouting staff last summer that had produced so much Lakers success over the years. Those layoffs included Ronnie Lester, the trusted Lakers executive who had spent years helping to populate the roster with top talent.
Because of the layoffs, Chaz tells friends he’s seen more than 50 college games and works hard at sitting courtside and filling in the scouting reports for the Lakers.
***
The other one third of the scouting for Jim Buss’s Lakers is Jesse Buss, a younger brother in his early 20s who, according to media reports, was arrested a while back on an alcohol-related charge while on a scouting trip in Kentucky. That doesn’t surprise some around the Lakers, because Jesse Buss has been known to entertain quite an entourage while following the team.
Does that answer your question? The other part is, other than Bynum, we’d have to go all the back to Kobe, and I’d give Phil as much credit for Kobe as anyone else, and Bynum as well, in other words, some speak to and write of developing talent except that the Lakers haven’t really had to do that for a long while now. Heck, for a team that is known historically for its bigs, the biggest and bestest of the bigs weren’t their draft picks, Wilt, Kareem, Shaq and Pau. And with the history of the various CBAs of late, the team has otherwise remained largely mute as the CBAs have continued to emasculate them.
tankyou says
Kobe averges SEVEN 3’s a game! That number is what really bothers me, he is shooting 20% from 3 point land. And barring a couple seasons, he never really was a good 3 point shooter anyway, average at best. Kobe is currently tied for #5th in the NBA for 3 point attempts per game.
If we have to watch this severely declined version of the future hall of famer play, can we at least watch him jack up less 3 point bricks. How about just less shots in general, he is still averaging nearly 17 shots per game, not shots he gets fouled on. IF he can’t force himself to shoot less, regardless of how much he misses, can Byron at least just play him 20mpg and have him come off the bench as the 6th man? Let him jack up shots with Lou Williams and Swaggy in the 2nd unit, rather than start him in-between resting games.
Overall I’m not a big fan of watching the ISO gunners crew. Basketball wise this team is just not much fun to watch, especially if you like to see some semblance of defense on the wings. I’m honestly having a tough time basically just trying to hope for a good game from one of our 3 young guys. So what are our odds of getting the @1 Pick if we have the 2nd worst record in the League? Seems like the 76ers are a lock for worst record in the league, I think we look pretty solid for 2nd or 3rd worst record this year, even with some marginal improvements, given we can’t really defend anybody.
macster says
I said it before and I will say it again, Kobe shoots too much. I believe that he took 14 shots in the first half. He needs to set up the youngsters and let them work, and also be in a position to bail them out. At the least tone down the threes.
M~
Vasheed says
@sam,
Great post. I don’t know if the Lakers have a better starter than Randle. I think the most interesting thing about Randle is his ability to handle the ball and drive to the rim. However, teams have figured out they do not need to honor his right hand, nor do they have to respect his jump shot. He needs to improve on at least one of these two things to really leverage his talent. Nance has been a well rounded player but, I’m not quite sure he is a starter. Bass is a starter but, we are busy using him at Center for some reason…
teamn says
Renato,
I resigned myself at the end of last season that the true re-build would not begin until next year. I know that sounds absurd, but the FO tried too hard to accomplish too many things at once. I’m sure there has always been a plan, along with backup plans, but unfortunately since “the decision” each of those plans has failed. Thus, this thing really cannot get going until after this season.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not giving the FO a pass on this at all — it could have been done better as many others have pointed out. I just don’t see any other way to look at it and maintain my sanity.
rr — your Alternate Universe post made me laugh and depressed me at the same time. Well done.
J C says
Kobe started out fairly hot and had 10 of the team’s first 12 points. After that he seemed to get tired.
Even when he starts missing he keeps firing away.
As talented as he is, I have to wonder what his current style of play does to team morale. All the talk of him teaching the youngsters is a farce.
Now more than ever I think this season is already lost and only when Kobe is gone can this team truly begin to rebuild.
Maybe the FO sees that and so they will bury their heads in the sand and keep Byron for the entire year. Not for ‘basketball reasons,’ not even for tanking purposes, but financial ones – to save the money it will cost to hire another coach and still honor Byron’s contract.
As Vasheed says above, the FO must ultimately bear responsibility for this mess. In fact it reminds me of how the Clippers were run when Donald Sterling was in charge.
The current state of the Lakers is pathetic.
Joe Houston says
Don’t blame Kobe, blame the offensive system that gives Kobe open shots beyond the 3 point line. Also, blame the coach who refuses to tell Kobe not to take 3s. Kobe has played 20 years in this league, he is who he is. If you want to play him and you know he is a scorer, then you create shot opportunities for him at his spots not the shots for a SF in the Princeton. People pay to see Kobe, it behooves the coach to make sure he puts Kobe in a position to succeed and he isn’t doing that. I personally don’t mind the shooting so much, I don’t like the offense. This offense is a mismatch for the talent on the roster. Also, the Lakers lost last night because the PG and SG couldn’t defend all night. Byron despite seeing this struggle never made a defensive adjustment. The Lakers need a new coach pronto.
Anonymous says
Still the second worse team in the NBA. Oh well.
—
Yes, we are two games better than a team that is trying to lose every game. Yeah!
grumpy says
The Lakers are officially the second worst team in the league. While the season still has a long way to go, you have to wonder if the W/L record will influence the front office’s strategy. The thought of grabbing Simmons or Labissiere with a top 3 pick is tempting, especially given our current position.
Concerned says
At what point does losing impact the Lakers bottom line? I think that is the only way Jeanie will act. Until the Cash Cow sputters nothing will change.
__
I’ve often thought about this as well. Its been said the Buss kids roll out of bed and the Lakers make $100 Million a year. Why sweat wins and losses when the money continues to pour in.
However, it would appear that this year could produce a record worse than last year. And if we lose the pick its not likely that we’ll see an infusion of new talent next year. So, it is possible that the money train (tickets, sponsors TV/Radio fees) could begin to dwindle as soon as next season. Maybe not a lot but someone could notice the drop off, right? Someone on the Board could ask Jeanie, ‘What’s going on? This situation can’t continue.’
I mean even if Jeanie is not aware of the mess on the floor someone could ask that question, right? This is not a hopeless mess is it?
KO says
While you were asleep Kobe shot 20 more 3 pointers. Missed them all. Now 1 for 40 and Scott said he is moving the ball better then ever.
Life of a Laker fan????
Dwight says
Maybe not a lot but someone could notice the drop off, right? Someone on the Board could ask Jeanie, ‘What’s going on? This situation can’t continue.’
___
The Lakers are a private family organization. The Board has many Buss family members sitting on it as well as representation from minority owners (Anschutz Entertainment, Ed Roski and Patrick Soon-Shiong). None of the above are hurting for cash, so a dip in operating revenue won’t be the catalyst you are hoping for.
The only way change occurs is if someone really cares about winning. The reality is that the franchise hasn’t sniffed the playoffs in three years and if the ship isn’t righted quickly (from a leadership perspective) the rest of the decade could be lost as well.
KO says
Nice post Dwight. Your info is right on. Buss Trust owns 67%… With worst record ever they made $112,000,000. With 2nd highest TV deal and 3rd highest ticket prices I can only quote ALFRED E. NEWMAN
“WHY ME WORRY”
Anonymous says
horrible records, bad coach, bad management, no free agents, missing future draft picks. Do not panic – all will be fine – as stated by many over the past few years, at some point they will be right – perhaps
BigCitySid says
– Too many people here still don’t get it. ONLY reason Scott was hired was because he was the only one who agreed to the front office’s mandate to “let Kobe be Kobe” for better or worst.
Joe Houston says
KO, the Lakers have the highest TV deal
rr says
Renato,
Well, as I said in preseason, this is actually Year 1 of the rebuild, and in some ways, it is really Year 0, since Kobe and Byron will not be part of any good future Lakers teams. The thing is, I think the FO really wanted to reload rather than rebuild. They offered Pau a deal; they offered Anthony a max deal, and they tried to get Aldridge.
As Todd has said and as teamn reiterates above, the FO tried to do many things at once, and I also think that they badly overrated what Kobe would be able to do.
Also, I now think that Byron will probably get fired right after Christmas, and I think it is even conceivable that tomorrow could be it for him. Golden State is trying for the record on TNT and may want to really put a pasting on the Lakers, and I think another 136-97 type game, like the last preseason game, on national TV, might make the FO pull the trigger.
Dwight says
Too many people here still don’t get it. ONLY reason Scott was hired was because he was the only one who agreed to the front office’s mandate to “let Kobe be Kobe” for better or worst.
__
It will be nice, next year, to actually get back to trying to win games without all of this sidebar baggage:
– Kobe being Kobe
– BS allowing Kobe to be Kobe
– Signing vets not because they fit but because they are available (Williams and Bass)
Do I expect the Lakers to be anything special next year: No, they will still have a sub .500 record. But I firmly expect the kids to play to play better and to have more fun watching the team.
Anon said it best: ‘Because three years in on this rebuild we are still painful to watch.’
KevTheBold says
With wins out of reach this season, for me, the growth of the kids is where brightness resides.
Randle: Full of strength, determination and potential skill.
He needs to learn move around obtacles, not always through them, and patience after feints before he shoots.
Clarkson: An amazingly poised and skilled scorer. A slasher to the bone.
Perfect for a SG, yet needs to slow down when passing and stop projecting prior to.
D’Angelo: Ultra talented brainy and cool confidence. His problems are mostly associated with leashes, some held by Scott, others by himself.
All in all, our core contains seeds which can sprout an orchard imo.
I’m more hopeful and happy than I have been in years !
BigCitySid says
– Lakers vs Warriors: Lakers have an opportunity to be a footnote in NBA history. To be the team which prevented the Warriors from getting the record for best start of a season or by being the team which allowed them to get the record.
– History in the making.
Vasheed says
@BigCitySid,
I think roots matter a lot with the Lakers. I strongly favored George Karl at the time who was a college room mate of Mitch’s but, I think his interference with the F.O. in Sacremento demonstrated why they did not go with him. Same interference issues I believe lead to MDA over Phil. I think that is pretty much what lead to Scott. Roots plus non-interference.
Anonymous says
Lakers now ranked 29th in ESPN’s weekly Power Ranking. That’s 29th out of 30 teams.
Anonymous says
I am anxious to see how Clarkson does up against the Warriors’ Thompson. Jordan gives up about two inches and 20 pounds to KT. Interesting match-up.
BlizzardOfOz says
@BCS – this might be the highest-stakes game the Lakers play all year (unless they can play spoiler for some team fighting for seeding later). I wonder if we will see some last shades of vintage Kobe with the extra motivation.
matt says
Sid, byron most likely was hired because he was the only coach who wanted to work with kobe at the time, it probly took so long to finalize the deal because he has 1 or 2 years left after kobe’s deal is up, management likely had a deal to coincide with kobe and byron wanted more, who knows but i like the speculation
matt says
If they dont swing for a trade this year you know for a fact its a tank
matt says
Lakers management gets more credit then noted, look at whats going on, PLAN A 2012 lakers acquire Dwight howard on a contract ending deal for pretty much nothing, lakers roll dice acquire steve nash for 2 protected first round picks and 2 2nd round picks, lakers lineup nash kobe pau howard, if it worked a championship contender, but it doesn’t work, PLAN B, rebuild through the draft sign kobe for entertainment purposes only set yourself up for big free agent signings when kobe’s done, their plan b is fully being exercised, think about this 2014 draft about 6 players look to be good lakers line thereself up for pick 6, 2015 draft top 5 picks protected about 5 players look to be good lakers set themselves up for top 5, 2016 draft top 3 picks proteted about 2 to 4 players look to be good lakers are now setting themselves up for top 3, is it all a coincidence, if they wanted to win do you let pau walk, do you sign kobe for that much, do you draft a player who’s not yet nba ready in russell over okafor was was ready
Mid-Wilshire says
I concur with rr that Byron Scott may be on very thin ice. I think this may be the case for several reasons:
1) The Lakers’ record is abysmal. There’s no way to sugar-coat it. Even those fans who are completely attuned to the fact that this is a re-building year are probably deeply disappointed.
2) I truly believe that Mitch Kupchak had higher expectations for this team. Whether that’s fair or not is beside the point. Having spent many years in the corporate world, I can assure you that consistently disappointing your boss is not the road to career longevity.
3) Byron’s rotations have been devastatingly poor. To begin with, Kobe’s minutes are beginning to inflate. This is not a good thing. If Kobe goes down with an injury, heaven forbid, Laker fans will be on the verge of a riot. Byron’s defensiveness in post game interviews, furthermore, does not help his cause. In addition, Byron’s extraordinarily stubborn insistence on playing Brandon Bass at the 5 position flies in the face of all logic and common sense. Recently, Drew Garrison of Silver Screen and Roll has written a very insightful piece in which he examines the failure of this strategy. When the Lakers play with Bass at the center position, their defensive rating is 112.8. When he is not at the center position (i.e., on the bench), the Lakers’ defensive rating is 103.8. And yet, against Portland, Bass inexplicably played the entire 4th quarter.
Such decisions are virtually indefensible. If the Lakers lose 3 out of the next 4 games, or, as rr points out, get completely blown out of one of those games, then the end will be near.
Chris J says
and I think another 136-97 type game, like the last preseason game, on national TV, might make the FO pull the trigger.
—————
Not that your idea there is at all unreasonable, but if that does occur, holy cow, then what? It’s the worst possible time to look to add a guy whom the front office really wants long term, as (in theory, anyway) hiring now would limit the pool of applicants to people who are currently out of work, or those who would be willing to quit on their current job just as a new season is getting started.
Even if the Lakers had an outside chance at stealing a John Calipari, or some Brad Stevens-style wunderkind from out of the college ranks or some sharp NBA-level assistant – doubtful, in my opinion, but let’s play along for the sake of discussion – would that guy really quit on his staff and players/recruits now, just as a new season is beginning? I don’t see it; not for this Lakers job, with this roster in 2015. The Buss family can’t assume they can throw money around and say, “Hey, we’re the Lakers” and expect to land the pick of the litter. Those days are over.
Short of that, they could dip into the coaching retread pool, or finish the season with someone already in house. With apologies to Mad Dog, it’s not as though the Coach of the Future is currently waiting in the wings, so do Mitch & Co. look toward a current assistant on an interim basis, and run the risk of stalling nearly a full-season’s worth of young player development by using a system that the next “real” coach likely won’t run?
I’m all for Byron being shown the door, hopefully taking Kobe’s big minutes with him. But the next move options don’t seem all that much more appealing. Tom Thibodeau doesn’t seem like the right fit. Maybe a Scott Brooks? The way things have gone of late, I wouldn’t be shocked if Jimmy were at lunch with Mike Brown. (I kid. Maybe.)
teamn says
Chris J — great post. I see the logic in rr’s argument, and maybe it should happen, but then what? Bernie Bickerstaff?
rr says
Chris J,
I said in an earlier post a few weeks ago that the FO should fire Scott if
a) They believe he is hurting the young guys
And/or
b) They think he has lost the locker room.
If they pull the trigger, then I think they should just put Pressey or Madsen in charge for the rest of the year/an indefinite period with orders to play the young guys. If the FO thinks Pressey or Madsen is incapable of running a terrible team on an interim basis, then they shouldn’t be on the staff to begin with. Then look for a coach in the off-season while planning for it now—and do it carefully.
But I don’t think Scott should be fired just because so many people hate his rotations or his mannerisms or the Princeton or because the team loses all the time. As I said in preseason, I never bought the idea that this team was vastly improved. The young guys provide some hope; there was little reason to believe that they would provide a lot of Ws. There is no Magic Johnson or LeBron James among the Lakers’ young players. The rest of the roster is a bunch of veteran role players and a washed-up legend who seems unable to face the fact that he is now a bad NBA player in part since his FO has made him the highest-paid player in the league.
All that said, if Scott is as bad as some people think, then even replacing him with an interim coach should help.
KevTheBold says
I personally don’t see the logic in impatience. No matter what, this season will be on training wheels.
The worst thing imo would be to push our kids too fast and end up with wreck injuries; and for what?
A few more wins as salve for the impaitient ones; just enough for us to lose our draft pick?
As a side note: we have no idea if a Magic is amoungst us.
Let Kobe have his farewell tour, and Scott, his one year as a Laker coach; as long as they don’t do any permanent damage to the kids, and we retain our pick, I’m cool.
rr says
As a side note: we have no idea if a Magic is amoungst us.
—
I think we do. I agree that Russell can still be very good, but Magic put up a 20.6 PER as a rookie, scored 26 points in his first NBA game, and of course scored 42 points in Game 6 of the NBA Finals after leading his team to the NCAA title. Magic was an excellent NBA player immediately. Russell, unlike Magic, was a one-and-done, but guys who are going to be on Magic’s level usually announce themselves pretty quickly and not even Russell’s biggest boosters see him as an historical prospect, nor do any scouts or metrics.
rr says
Kev,
As you probably know, even if the Lakers go 8-74, that does not guarantee keeping the pick. The team with the second-worst record has a 55.8% shot at staying in the top 3.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_draft_lottery
KevTheBold says
rr, Magic played in a different time.
Talent has increased every decade since basketball was invented. The compeition kids face today is on a higher level, while the rules have made it more difficult to play without fouling out.
Even without the era differences, think it’s impossible to compare the rise of one individual against another.
There are too many variables.
Each person is an individual, so when I say he could be great, it has nothing to do with Magic.
For our time, and our team, he could be the one.
However, I don’t expect you to see it. You, it seems are one of those who consider yourself to be a ‘realist’, though in my book, there is no such thing.
Reality is created by optimists, who have pushed through the clouds of doubt generated by the pessimists, to invent, create, and develop, and most importantly, encourage, everything good in this world.
As for the percentages to keep our pick, I correct my last to say our ‘chance’ to keep it. 50/50 is much better than zilch.