Lakers: Becky Hammon Could be a Perfect Fit in Los Angeles
Comparing the Lakers to the Spurs in recent years is like comparing a Model-T to a Ferrari.
One team is in constant motion, with the ball zipping across the court in perfect harmony with the players. The other is clunky, with inconsistency being their defining characteristic.
Entire plays go by with little to no movement, although there are other plays where their players flash the potential and talent that they clearly possess. Play after play ends with contested jumpers, with players constantly confused about where to go and how to play within such a broken offense.
Although Becky Hammon is far from the architect of the Spurs brilliance, it would be difficult to argue that she hasn’t learned from the best. Gregg Popovich has built one of the most successful franchises in the sports world. The brilliance of the Spurs’ organization goes far beyond their on-court efficiency. In terms of drafting, few teams can even be mentioned in the same sentence as the team that found Tony Parker with the 28th pick, and Manu Ginobili with the 57th.
The Spurs also excel at developing young talent, as is evidenced by Kawhi Leonard‘s rapid rise to stardom. Danny Green and Patty Mills are just further examples of players who were developed with the Spurs into terrific players. However, her experience in the Spurs organization is far from her only experience with the sport.
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Hammon had already completed a prolific career as a basketball player, playing in the WNBA and the Olympics, before she became involved with coaching. Hammon was given the opportunity to learn from the Spurs’ staff while she was recovering from a torn ACL injury. During this time she impressed Gregg Popovich enough for him to offer her a full-time assistant position, making her the first female to hold such a position.
Becky Hammon quickly earned the respect and trust of Popovich, as he gave her the responsibility of coaching the organization’s summer league team. While other teams relied on their lottery picks and second-year players, Hammon faced the task of organizing a team that included no lottery picks. The only returning player from the Spurs actual roster was Kyle Anderson, who was the last pick in the first round last year.
Despite these disadvantages, Becky Hammon was able to orchestrate a coherent and effective gameplan, a rarity in the NBA’s chaotic summer league. In a tournament against teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves and Philadelphia 76ers, squads loaded with lottery picks, the shorthanded Spurs were still able to compete. Her coaching acumen, and her ability to put players in position to succeed, resulted in the Spurs reaching, and ultimately winning, the Summer League championship.
While the Summer League Championship is not an especially meaningful title, it was an impressive achievement for a team so short on highly touted rookie talent. It was also a significant milestone for a coach who has broken boundaries at every turn.
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During her time as the head coach of the Summer League team, Hammon earned ringing endorsements from her players. Kyle Anderson in particular praised her performance in an interview. One quote from him seems especially relevant to the Lakers. In regards to a play-call at the end of a close game, Anderson was quoted as saying “She put us in a great position to win the game.”
Laker fans still feel the sting of two missed game-winners already in this young season, both the result of simple isolation plays. A coach’s creativity is put on full display in those situations, and the difference between Hammon and Scott in this area is striking.
This is precisely what the Lakers need so desperately, a coach who can put players in a position to succeed. Byron Scott has struggled with this in particular, often playing players out of position while still failing to create and exploit mismatches on offense. With a high basketball IQ and the tutelage of the league’s best coach, Hammon will be much better equipped to do just that.
The Lakers can definitely benefit from the motion-heavy offensive system that the Spurs’ run, although tweaking will be needed to better fit the Lakers young players. Becky Hammon has shown that she possesses more than enough intelligence and knowledge of the sport to adjust the system as needed.
Having played the point-guard throughout her playing career, Hammon is more than comfortable orchestrating an offense. This could be especially helpful to a Lakers team with two promising young ball-handlers in Jordan Clarkson and D’Angelo Russell. Her time playing such a complex position also contributes to her extensive basketball knowledge and experience.
However, Becky Hammon is still a very young coach, who will need time to experiment and develop a distinctive style. While this may be a negative for some teams, it should be viewed as a positive for the Lakers. With a young, developing team, the Lakers can afford to wait for Hammon to get her footing, and can actually benefit from her development. A coach who is willing to experiment and adjust is also perfect for the Lakers young players, who have struggled mightily in Byron Scott’s rigid system.
The fact that Hammon has earned Popovich’s endorsement is one of the most compelling arguments for considering her.
Although the Lakers would be taking a chance on an inexperienced coach, history is definitely on their side. Popovich has a history of producing excellent coaches, with Tom Thibodeau and Mike Budenholzer both having been on his bench for a time.
The fact that Hammon has earned Popovich’s endorsement is one of the most compelling arguments for considering her.
In hiring Byron Scott, the Lakers went the safe route. Scott is a coach who runs a conservative offense, shies away from experimentation, and had built-in appeal as a former Laker. This plan has backfired on the Lakers, resulting in two disastrous seasons. Perhaps it’s time for the Lakers to say goodbye to the safe route, and move into the future with a far more capable leader at the helm.
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How do you think the Lakers would be if Becky Hammon was the head coach? Let us know in the comments below!