Records: Lakers 9-40, Last in the West; Hornets 22-25, 10th in the East
Offensive ratings: Lakers 96.9, 29th in NBA; Hornets 102.6, 15th in the NBA
Defensive ratings: Lakers 108.4, Last in the NBA; Hornets 102.5, (T) 13th in the NBA
Projected Starting Lineups: Lakers: Clarkson, Williams, Anthony Brown, Randle, Hibbert
Hornets: Kemba, PJ Hairston, MKG, Marvin’s Room, Spencer Hawes
The Lakers Coming in: The Lakers have now lost 9 games in a row or, said another way, have managed to lose as many games in a row as they have won all season. The 9 game streak is the 2nd longest in team history, but a loss tonight would tie that record. If you’re wondering the last time the team lost 9 games straight it was…last season. So, yeah, Byron Scott holds a couple of dubious distinctions in the form of consecutive losses (both for the Lakers and the NBA) and can add to his legend tonight.
The Hornets Coming in: The Hornets have lost two straight, but before that had won three in a row (and four of five) including wins over the Kings, Knicks, and Jazz. So, while they are currently out of the playoff mix in the East, they have been playing some decent ball.
They have also been dealing with injuries, with a slew of rotation players banged up or out of the lineup entirely. Nic Batum, Cody Zeller, and Al Jefferson are already ruled out while Jeremy’s Lin and Lamb and PJ Hairston are all questionable. On the good new front, they have gotten Michael Kidd-Gilchrist back from his shoulder injury, a needed wing defender who adds toughness and defensive versatility to a lineup which needs more of that with Batum injured.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t bring up Kemba Walker and the fine year he is having. The Hornets aren’t a great offensive team (though top-half of the league is respectable), but Walker has been having a nice year averaging 20 points and 5 assists while having some big scoring nights to carry his team. He is a threat to go for 30+ on any given night and has gone for 52 and 40 points in his last 7 games. These types of games had him in consideration for the All-Star game, but there just weren’t enough slots for him this year.
Hornets Blogs: Check out At The Hive for your Hornets news and analysis.
Keys to game: The Hornets are well coached, have some scoring punch in their backcourt with Walker — and if Lin plays, that threat goes up even more — and play good team defense. This is the type of profile which can really give the Lakers issues as Walker is a tough cover and I expect Steve Clifford to have his guys coached up to stop the Lakers’ offensive sets.
This doesn’t mean the game can’t be competitive, but it will take a team effort and a few big scoring games from their wings. I’ll be interested in seeing if Clarkson can break out against Walker and, if he does, if he can start to create plays for his teammates. I’m also interested in seeing what Julius Randle can do against this team — specifically against MKG and Marvin Williams when he’s working against them in space. Randle has major strength advantages against both and should be able to use that extra muscle to get to the paint. Once there, the Hornets don’t have shotblockers inside to bother him — Hawes and Kaminsky are not rim protectors — so I’m interested to see if his finishing inside improves tonight.
Lastly, the Lakers will need to cover the 3 point line against this team. Walker, Williams, and Hawes all shoot over 36% from deep. Kaminsky is a threat from out there too and Troy Daniels is a sniper from out there. If the Lakers cannot recover to the arc against this team, they will knock down shots and turn the game in their favor quickly.
Where you can watch: 6:30pm start time on TWC Sportnet. Also listen on ESPN Radio 710AM Los Angeles.
pat oslon says
If we get good effort from our guard tandem and good ball movement we have a decent chance at winning tonight. Randle’s confidence is soaring so hopefully he’ll be able to string along back-to-back great games. However we have to play better inside-out defensively, as a team, in order to have a chance at the upset.
……. The streak ends tonight!
BigCitySid says
-Last time Lakers lost 10 straight was when it dropped its final 10 games in 1993-94. Another possible record exist for this team.
Clay Bertrand says
CraigW, (from Previous thread) I agree w you totally on the whole Drafting Older Players thing……
Pat, Yes for better or worse, tonight is a very winnable game.
***Let’s Keep an eye on Batum…….I don’t think we should pursue Batum in FA***
I’m hoping Randle can maintain his same energy and effort being YoYo’d BACK TO THE BENCH tonight after starting and improving with each start it seemed.
Why can’t we start Nance and Randle together?? Oh yeah I forgot. We need a Rim Protector and if we would start Nance AND Randle, we would have teams scoring at will in the paint and we’d lose by double digits EVERY night.
Good thing we aren’t going THAT route…….
Can we assume that AFTER the trade deadline, we can BENCH the Vets!!?!?!?!? Or will it just be “BYRON SCOTT REASONS” for the last 2.5 months of the season?!?!?!!?
Fern says
Funny how things work, i was checking the stats of the 2014 Draft class and boy is full of busts, of all the 1st rounders only 5 are scoring in double figures including our own Julius Randle, the rest? pfft, i remember all the hype and all the talk here and all over about that being the best Draft in 10 years and one of the best ones ever. At least we got our picks right, we could had drafted Exum or Vonleh ugh. Of all the players Wiggins is the one that is looking the best. Julius is right up there with Jabari Parker in production begind Wiggins, the rest? nothing to write home about Clarkson would be a top ten pick easy if they could redo the Draft, the talk was that the top ten picks were going to be impact players, meh for the majority so far, it makes the Lakers Draft night haul that night all the more impressive.
KO says
Well will tonight be franchise record 10 in a row?
No I feel a win. Number 10 on season.
rr says
2014 Draft: Exum, Embiid, Randle, and Parker have all had major injury setbacks. Smart got hurt as well, although he has been back for awhile now. A lot of people thought that Gordon was a reach at 4.
That draft may end up going down as one of the most overhyped, but it is still very early.
Fern,
Exum was off the board when the Lakers picked. Vonleh went at 9; Nik Stauskas went at 8. And if you are telling people to be patient with the Lakers rookies, then Vonleh and Exum should be on long clocks as well. They are both younger than Randle.
KO says
Take back my win call.
Kobe starting.
29% last 10
18% from 3 this year.
0 for 5 already.
Kobe tour of horribe play continues.
Sad
rr says
RIP Marge Hearn, who moved on yesterday after living to be 98.
LKK says
Thanks rr for mentioning Mrs. Hearn and helping us keep things in perspective. From all accounts, a great lady.
fern says
@rr Exum is gone for the season after avg less than 5 points a game as a rookie Clarkson easily obliterated those numbers as the 46th pick and on top of that posterized the hell out of him lol, i give you the injury factor and i agree is way too early. If i remember correctly the Lakers were going to pick Randle even if Exum was on the board, Exum was my pick but now in hindsight im glad we didn’t pick him. Vonleh? He avg 3 and 3 as a rookie got traded right away and now he avg 3 and 4 and have started 37 games!! He has started in 10 more games than Randle and can’t shoot,can’t rebound either.
I talk about patience but there has to be some production and improvement. Im sure Exum would have improved a lot this season.Vonleh?not so much and the majority are in the same boat. My point was that the Lakers were able to see thru all the overhype and pick the 2 best guys after Wiggins so far in the entire Draft.
fern says
“Kobe tour of horribe play continues.”
15 ponts on 5-11
KO says
10Th in row franchuse record.
On way to franchise record worst record in history.
And Jim, Mitch and Bryon still stealing money for being incompetent.
Spin it with the Lakers BS all you want but this is a joke to real Laker fans and the franchise.
Eyes wide shut.
rr says
Fern,
The Lakers didn’t see through anything. They went with Randle over Vonleh, which was a safe, reasonable pick since Vonleh was and still is very raw. That’s it. Vonleh was seen by some as having higher upside; so far, it hasn’t happened. I said at the time that I preferred Vonleh, but that Randle was a very reasonable move.
Clarkson was obviously a very nice pick at 46, but he has actually regressed in a couple of key areas this year.
Hale says
98! She had a good run and a long stretch without Chick. Goodnight, Mrs. Hearn.
fern says
3 point drill for the Hornets, man one can try but it’s really hard to watch, i watch a couple of minutes of the 3rd and if they don’t turn it around, im calling it a night,im about to throw my remote at the tv. Just because im not whining and bitching and moaning on and on every night doesn’t mean im not pissed at the state of the Lakers but i guess whining and complaining every night are the true markings of a “real” Lakers fan…
fern says
Vonleh is still raw? is his second season in the league and he has been given the opportunity to start a lot of games and there is zero improvement. He has all the trappings of a bust 3 points and 3 rebounds a game with 37 starts, i know that’s the guy you wanted the Lakers to pick but gimme a break the Lakers got it right. And they saw thru the hype, the numbers prove it virtually against almost every other 1st round pick on that Draft.
rr says
And they saw thru the hype,
—
This argument might work if they had taken Randle at 2. Picking him over a guy like Vonleh was just a very standard move.
KO says
3 quarters
Roy and 0 Russell baskets.
No problem here though.
rr says
Just because im not whining and bitching and moaning
—
Everybody deals with this in different ways, and everybody has different targets of frustration.
fern says
Man, that’s im out, Byron Scott should be fired after this game, a team this unprepared and this unmotivated,it’s on the coach, i don’t see him lasting the season, this is too much, this team is just broken.
LKK says
You know I think we all can live with hard fought losses if we could see some progress and development. This is hard to take. Our team needs to get their heads out of their tails and start competing.
fern says
rr the Lakers didn’t had the #2 pick so i dont see the relevance but anyways im out, i really dont want to break my tv, need to get this game and the Lakers out of my mind for a little bit…
Chris J says
Watching this team get handled night in and out, with no discernible improvement on defense midway through the year… 10 losses in a row. I wish there were a viable replacement coach in the weeds somewhere so the Lakers could cut bait on Byron at the All-Star break and begin to make fans believe the rebuild is coming.
Alas, we’ll get more Byron, more Kobe’s goodbye tour and (hopefully) emough losses to keep the first round pick. Another arduous year, but it’s hit a point where the team is getting to be unwatchable so many nights.
rr says
Turned the sound down on the TV and listened to Jeanie’s radio interview
KO says
When a young team gets worse and worse as season goes in how can that NOT BE COACHING!
J C says
Watching the game on a bit of a delay.
91-65.
I don’t care what excuses exist for Kobe’s farewell tour or the youth on the roster.
This team is getting BLOWN OUT
EMBARASSED
REPEATEDLY
AT HOME
How Byron still has a (%€¥|!£¥%!!) job
is beyond me.
This is by far the worst coached Laker team in memory and that includes Dantoni’s reign of terror.
J C says
If Byron isn’t fired tomorrow, after this string of consecutive losses, then the team is tanking.
Shameful.
Tim says
Lakers record with a player from the University of Duke .395, record with no Duke player on roster .620. First Duke player was in the 2011-12 season and every season since.
Ryan Kelly was trending on Twitter.
KO says
No JC Shameless.
On Showtime right now.
Stop thinking Buss cares. Only been in office 4 times this month spent last 2 weeks in Laguna Beach. Trying to track him down.
A Horse With No Name says
As someone who wants to keep our pick and thus accepts losing, I found tonight’s game unbearably bad. The team looked lifeless from the get-go. Lou Williams chucking and missing, and matador defense were abysmal. Sure, Kobe made shots but simply can’t defend anymore. For the first time this team looked like they didn’t care, and that’s on Byron. He should be fired, but I don’t expect it to happen–and maybe that’s the best thing if it nets a top three pick.
Chris J says
rr — Did she have anything meaningful to say?
rr says
Chris J,
A lot of it was PR stuff–she talked about Shaq’s statue, how great it was to see Pau when the Bulls were in town and how much she likes/respects him, and she talked about the Rams. I get that; the Lakers’ past is a lot more fun to talk about than their present.
But she did refer directly to Jim’s “turned the corner” statement and to Mitch’s statement about contending for the playoffs, and said that “I am just as frustrated as other Lakers fans” and that she took Mitch and Jim’s statements “to heart” and so was very disappointed to be at the bottom of the conference. So, if they are stealth tanking then either she is part of the long con or she is not in on it.
She referred to her Dad as “Dr. Buss” and said that he always felt it was “important to be competitive”, noted the Lakers’ consistent ability to at least make post-season under him and pointed out (as I did a couple of weeks ago) that being this bad for three straight years is “uncharted territory” for this franchise. She mentioned that the team has only nine wins. So, basically, she is continuing her pattern of being cold towards and unsupportive of “our front office” as she called them.
rr says
With the calls for Scott’s head growing louder, one thing to consider: if Jim/Mitch can Byron, and then Jeanie holds Jim to the timeline and cans him at the end of the 2017 season, and they bring in an outside guy, that guy would almost certainly want to hire his own coach. I suppose that if the kept Mitch around and promoted Ryan West, then maybe you keep the coach that Mitch was involved in hiring, but it could still be awkward.
So, presuming that Scott is going to get fired, either in the next week or so or after the season, then it goes back to what was being discussed the other day: IMO Jeanie should either can Jim in April, and let Mitch and Ryan West run the team during interviews for a new guy/s, (and the new guy might be Ryan West) or she should announce that Jim and Mitch will be in place through 2018.
That said, I think there is pretty much no chance that Jim is going or Byron is staying, and I do think that Jeanie takes the timeline seriously. She was sort of dismissive on the surface of it in the interview, but said so in the context of strongly suggesting that with the Lakers “resources” they should not be out of contention for protracted periods. And she said nothing that was directly supportive of the FO.
J C says
Sure it’s gonna get awkward as heads roll, especially at or near the top of the food chain.
But I doubt anyone from the trio of Jim, Jeannie or Mitch is gonna fall on their sword to save Byron.
Even if we know the problems run deeper, Byron is sure to be the first to go. Jim will need a scapegoat because he and Mitch are next on the chopping block. It’s not as if Mitch couldn’t get a job elsewhere. I’m sure he’d be highly sought-after.
If Ryan moves up that’s probably a really good thing. I wonder if he can consult w his Dad, or if that’s a conflict.
bleedpurplegold says
Kobe should retire right after the all-star game…he should come out and say it like it is: this team is not worth risking another injury. A 7’2” center playing 22min with a statline of 0pts and 2rbs, even though he had 3 blocks, is emberassing for a franchise with such rich tradition at that position.
He has absolutly 0 help. Yes, he started the season slow, but since then he picked it up and had very solid games like this one tonight. Can anyone remember an all-time great being forced to go out this way?!? MJ chose to play for a garbage team, but wilt, magic, bird, shaq, kareem, hakeem in the past and now wade and dirk etc. As a franchise, you just do not want a player to go out that way. You do everything in your might to give him help, and we blew several chances to do so. It makes me sad and angry at the same time to watch maybe the greatest laker of all time (besides magic?!? Cant tell i was too young to see much of him) go out this way. The mavs overpaid a bunch of guys in order to send out dirk on the right note, dragic aint worth more than 8mill….yet teams knew what they had to do in order to send their franchise players out on a positive note….
I only know one solution: Firing Jimmy-Boy! I am so sick of this cocky guy, and KOs post really killed it for me….he gave the fans a team like this and doesnt even have the decency to show up on the job?!?
We need a wake-up call, kobe retiring during the season would really force jeanie to take react…
BigCitySid says
– “The 9-41 Lakers have now tied for their longest losing streak in franchise history — the 1993-94 Lakers also lost 10 straight games — and this team could break that tie with consecutive loss No. 11 on Tuesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Staples Center.
“Honestly, it doesn’t really matter,” Lakers icon Kobe Bryant said of the notion that his team must win Tuesday to avoid that dubious mark. “What, it makes a s—y season less s—y?”
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/14688951/los-angeles-fans-angst-hits-fever-pitch-lakers-tie-franchise-worst-skid
-Yes, this season is on #24’s resume…as is the previous two losing seasons. Three seasons in a row.
– Appears the fans are interested in more than “The Farewell Tour”
BigCitySid says
– Baxter Holmes: “Losses may have lasting effect on psyche of Lakers’ young, promising core”
http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/lakers/post/_/id/42704/lakers-risk-losing-affecting-psyche-of-their-promising-young-core
– …and some can’t understand how these young guys can get frustrated with the direction and priority of this season.
Vasheed says
@rr/fern,
Should be noted Vonleh was injured in his rookie season and saw virtually no floor time in his rookie year. I also do think Vonleh has a lot of potential. I think Vonleh has found himself in a good situation in Portland where the team is being patient. He has improved on defense. He used to foul too much. Now he plays solid defense while grabbing a little over 4 rebounds in 16 minutes. He isn’t asked to score playing next to their high scoring back court. If he starts showing a little more on the offensive end he will become a solid overall player.
Vasheed says
@rr,
Interesting thoughts about why the team might be reluctant to can Scott.
Mid-Wilshire says
Jeff Hornacek was fired last night (Sunday night). That means that three coaches this year — Kevin McHale, David Blatt, and Jeff Hornacek — all with superior (in some cases, vastly superior) records to Byron Scott’s, have been released from their jobs. Given that, it is only reasonable to ask why, especially in light of the Lakers’ abysmal record (9-41, last in the Western Conference, 10 straight losses, etc., etc.) Byron Scott has been kept on.
I am convinced that the only reason that Byron continues to be employed is because of his ties to Kobe. After all, this season, as Mitch Kupchak has noted (in an admission that somewhat startled me) is all about Kobe and his farewell tour. Everything else is secondary. As a result, the Lakers apparently feel that they need a coach who can babysit the entire process of Kobe’s Farewell Tour. They need someone who can defer to Kobe and cater to his whims and defend him in the press, especially with only 32 games left in Kobe’s career.
That person, they believe, is Byron Scott. Neither Kevin McHale nor David Blatt nor Jeff Hornacek had to manage this rather strange side show / circus. But Byron does. And they must think that Byron is the man for the job.
I’m convinced that Byron will be terminated after the season is over (and before free agency kicks into high gear). I disagree that they will keep him on board in anticipation of a new FO possibly being hired in the next year or two or three. There is simply too much bleeding going on. And the hemorrhaging must be stopped.
One final thought: one of the most sacred principles in business is the sanctity of your customers. Now, customers do not run a company. Executives do. But customers do vote with their pocket books. If the Lakers were, for some inexplicable reason, to retain Byron for another year, the hue and cry from fans would be deafening. The Lakers would have a true insurrection on their hands. Furthermore, retaining Byron could affect the Lakers’ appeal to certain key Free Agents. And finally, fans could simply stop attending games. Can you imagine a Lakers game with only 6,000 fans in attendance while the Clippers pack them in every night? That would be the ultimate nightmare.
No. The Lakers must make a change. I wish that they would do it now. But they probably won’t…not as long as Kobe is here.
Until then, we must grin and bear it. This is what rock bottom looks like.
matt says
Seems to me like these games are the defining points of the season, with no player with any trade value, the team looks to be headed nowhere, the rookies seem to be trying but mostly frustrated, getting beat handly by teams that are not impressive, has got to deflate many confidence, who knows what the coach is really doing or thinking, one thing to note is he doesn’t seem to fear he could lose his job, which speaks loudly, not much to say here, but it looks sad.
Anonymous says
Does Ryan West have a track record that would make him an obvious candidate to replace Jim Buss? Does anyone here have some inside information about this? The only thing I’m sure of is that he has a great father (just like Jim).
Anonymous says
Glad to see that so many contributors, that were on the fence about Jim/Mitch, are open to making changes. Jeanie’s comments and lack of support makes it feel as if she is laying the groundwork for much needed organizational movement.
My gut says, that out of respect for her dad, Jim get’s to finish the 2016/17 season – as per his original timeline. Mitch should not be thrown out with the bathwater and should be kept on as a consultant. But its clear that the Lakers need new leadership and vision. So we’ll have one more ugly season to contend with.
I did a lot of driving yesterday and caught an ESPN radio show with Marc Stein, Amin Elhassan and Brian Windhorst. They were talking NBA – nothing Lakers specifically. But here’s my take away from their discussion:
1. 20 team will have 20+ million dollars of cap space this summer. There will be plenty of teams courting the top free agents. Yes, the Lakers have more cap space but they are also 9 – 41. Free agents chose to go to teams that can pay them and are already competing.
2. Salaries will be rising pretty fast so the Lakers FO better beware of overspending for players.
3. Players peak and plateau around 30 so beware of paying an older player for 4 years and really only getting two good years out of them (eg: Al Horford).
This summer is short on elite free agents but long on players that will command far above average compensation because of the rising cap. Think of Nick Young – he’s a livable mistake at $5 mill but not so much if he’s being paid $10 mil. That’s the trap Jim could fall into in trying to improve the team and keep his job.
jojo says
” the Lakers apparently feel that they need a coach who can babysit the entire process of Kobe’s Farewell Tour. They need someone who can defer to Kobe and cater to his whims and defend him in the press, especially with only 32 games left in Kobe’s career.”
Exactamundo; well-stated once again, Mid.
Yet for me….
Firing Byron would signal some effort at “change”, no doubt. This fish stinks from the head down, however. And since Dr. Buss is no longer with us, that leaves our ‘vaunted’ front office. All of ’em, not just the ones Jeanie wants to call the “front office”.
Their various decisions and public proclamations over the past couple of years are well-known. We’ve pounded those carcasses into the turf here at FB&G. I don’t think it’s a stretch to proclaim that the sum total of this ‘impressive’ body of work by Laker mgmt. might reveal a smidge of ineptitude.
Sure, fire Byron. But look who’d still be here.
Memo to the top: Please stop playing the “rich kids with an expensive toy” game with the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA. I’ve been a fan since Jerry West was playing here. Down years? Who cares. But this reality-show fodder you’re orchestrating is a real drag to this fan. Fire yourselves too por favor, thanks…
Anonymous says
KO: You seem to have some insight into the Jim Buss work ethic. It really sounds like he likes to live ‘large’ like an owner more so than put in the time and effort that being in charge of basketball operations requires.
No one is saying that you have to be in the office 24/7 – we live in a technology driven world which allows flexibility and productivity. But, being out of the office for two weeks, two weeks away from the trade deadline, doesn’t sound good.
I think he should just be an ‘owner’.
matt says
Lou williams needs to be traded he is hampering the other players, and would benefit another team more, we need a more defensive guard.
Vasheed says
How much does Jim Buss matter coming into the trade deadline? For the most part he seems to defer to Mitch on personnel. Mitch has already said he isn’t expecting a blockbuster trade so how involved should we expect Jim to be?
Jim’s failures seem to be more around choosing a coach and signing a big free agent. If the Lakers fire Scott, Jim would seem to have a rather easy softball choice of hiring Luke Walton who fills out a check list of a desirable coach going forward. As for big free agents I’m just not going hold my breath.
I think if Jim manages to make the team good enough that I’m not reading about constant stealth tank secret plots then while behind the stated goal that would show to be righting the ship. If as fans we endure another tankathon Jim should seriously just step down and do everyone a favor.
rr says
-Yes, this season is on #24’s resume…
—
Yeah, but again: Kobe’s legacy is secure. 5 titles, 2 Gold medals, 3rd on the scoring list, 1st ballot HOF, two jerseys in the rafters, statue outside Staples. It is only guys like you–who always thought Kobe was a negative player–that will focus on this year when talking about his career.
These teams are defining for only one person in the hierarchy: Jim Buss. Mitch, Byron, and Kobe all have other stuff to point to, and Byron was not seen as being a successful/high-end coach even before the Lakers hired him.
rr says
I may be proven wrong, but I am guessing that Luke Walton will not want the Lakers’ job.
KevTheBold says
Walton should jump at the chance to be the head coach of the Lakers.
He was a Laker, has scant experience, and would have a chance to bring the one of the most famous teams in history, back into prominence; and in doing so gaining fame and a secure place for himself in history.
With difficult challenges, come great rewards.
R says
rr – yeah I’m with you regarding L Walton.
Why would he want to come to the Lakers?
A team seemingly not only in disarray, but honestly, with a very serious talent deficit. And, with limited near term options for re loading via the draft.
KO says
Annon
Not sure. Seldom out in LA. Has a place in Laguna Beach which I hear is being sold or was in esrow. Very private guyl
Craig W. says
While the Lakers can’t get anyone they might want, this is still a desirable job. We fans seem to see all this as making the Lakers into a Sacramento type franchise. That really isn’t the case. We have the entertainment capital of the world, really good weather, and a fanbase that won’t settle for anything less than competing for championships. That’s not nothing.
Then there is the John Wooden effect. You really don’t want to be Gene Bartow, but Larry Brown was able to make himself quite a name at UCLA. If you believe the culture will force the team to get better, then intelligent coaches and free-agents will consider the Lakers.
The argument here is really about whether the Buss family has destroyed the culture. IMO, very impatient fans and numb-scull ‘talking heads’ aren’t exactly the best judges of this kind of thing. People here are correct, however, in thinking that the next two years will tell the tale about what this franchise can do in the next five years. When you want change yesterday, it is hard to be told you will have to wait 18 months to see if we are successful.
KevTheBold says
The Suns fired their coach, and now are offering it to Steve Nash.
rr says
Walton: It is not that I think no one will want the Lakers job; it is that :
a) Golden State is 44-4. Walton is part of something historic there and could get 2-3 rings.
b) I do not think Kerr will coach all that long, given his back trouble and his personality. Walton might be the GSW coach in a year or two.
c) Walton will have other options both now and later.
If the Lakers keep the pick, and especially if they win the lottery, then even with all the issues, the job will have a lot of plusses and there will be people who want it.
matt says
Luke should Take The job they overpaid him for being hurt as a player
Anonymous says
The Warriors will make a very satisfying monetary offer for Luke to hang out on Kerr’s staff until they figure out whether Kerr is healthy enough to continue.
Agree with rr, if the Lakers get a top two pick the job becomes a little brighter but you’d still be giving up being associated with the #1 ranked team in the NBA and going to the 30th ranked team. Lot’s of growing pains associated with a move like that.
Matt: Luke doesn’t owe the Lakers anything. Shame on the Lakers for not identifying talent with ties to the organization and getting them back. I’m talking about Luke, Tyron Lue and Steve Nash.
The Lakers can often be short sighted — preferring too few irons in the fire as opposed to too many. Again, Jim has projected an image of, ‘I got this’ and that has been shortsighted as our dismal record will attest to.
R says
yes, of course people will want the Lakers job no doubt.
It’s just re: Walton : what rr said.
re: lottery, I believe we are looking at a 20% chance of securing the #1 slot upcoming.
Craig W – well, I tend to think many of us fans overvalue the “young core” and “all the cap space” the Lakers will have. There’s a phrase for this sort of Psychological phenomenon, can’t remember what it is. Anyway, its not unknown for people who are really passionate about something to lose the ability to be objective about the subject of their ardor. Specifically, this may lead some of us to overvalue what the Lakers have to offer.
In addition, I think there’s ample reason to wonder if the FO has lost its mind.
T. Rogers says
“b) I do not think Kerr will coach all that long, given his back trouble and his personality. Walton might be the GSW coach in a year or two.”
—
I agree with this. If Golden State repeats I can see Kerr stepping aside for health reasons. Maybe he takes a job in the front office. He does have front office experience. But Golden State’s core is young. With some tweaks here and there they can contend for another 5 years. Why would Luke leave that behind?
R says
With all their troubles the Lakers are still the 2nd most valuable team in the League, per Forbes.
I’m no mind reader, but maybe that’s the ultimate priority for the Jeannie and Jimmie show anyway.
Clay Bertrand says
That game was freaking ghastly!!!!!!!!!!!! Just depressing. I actually thought that Byron might get CANNED last night. Then I see Hornacek got the ax……..Byron might actually be making the situation worse here after all. I’m really down on him……..
rr,
Ryan West may well be the future GM but he JUST got promoted to Director of Player Personnel in August.
Personally, while I think he is a bright mind with a hell of a pedigree who likely has a future in our FO, I don’t think he is seasoned enough to become the full head guy just yet. I don’t think he will be thrust into the GM role for at least a couple more years. When the Kings had rumored interest in him, I read where the talk was that Jim would conceivably step aside in the next couple of years and revert to strictly an ownership role. Mitch would take on the title/role of Vice President Director of Basketball Operations and Ryan West would move up to the GM spot.
I think with Ryan just being promoted in August, it would be a little hasty to promote him again to the GM role at this time.
Anonymous says
Clay,
I don’t think that Jim and Mitch are going anywhere until April 2017 at the earliest. My point has been that, tactically and organizationally, I think that Jeanie should either pull the plug now or make a public guarantee that Jim and Mitch will stay in place through 2018 and then the issue will be re-visited. That gives them (presumably) another lottery pick, two FA cycles, and two years with (presumably) a new coach, and FAs would know who they would be playing for/getting recruited by.
rr says
141 pm is me.
Clay Bertrand says
rr, I got you. That would make sense.
Frankly, I don’t think Jeanie is fit to Captain the ship. She needs a staff to have her better prepared/supported for her role. Why can’t these people just be THE OWNERS!!?????????
They have to own the airplane AND FLY IT THEMSELVES!!??!??!??! This almost NEVER works in pro sports having ownership making personnel moves. SMH
I’d feel much better if its just Mitch and Ryan West making the decisions on the BBall side.
rr says
I disagree that they will keep him on board in anticipation of a new FO possibly being hired in the next year or two or three.
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No one said that.