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Lakers Rumors: What Tom Thibodeau Could Bring to LA

By Eric Yee

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After an 0-4 start to the season, fans and critics alike are more than willing to offer their thoughts on the struggling Lakers franchise.

This should come as no surprise, but through four games, fans are already calling for Byron Scott‘s head and speculating who should succeed him as coach. That said, little sympathy should be thrown Scott’s way, as he’s had plenty of time to make the necessary adjustments to place his young players in a position to succeed.

In regards to coaching choices, since the botched Chris Paul trade, the passing of Dr. Jerry Buss, or whatever you’d like to reference, the Lakers’ decision making on that front has been awful. Mike Brown, then Mike D’Antoni (who would have worked wonders on this team right now, just saying), and now Byron Scott (over Phil Jackson, mind you) is spotty decision making at best.

If you don’t agree with that statement just take a look at the defensive rankings of the past five Scott coached teams.

So much for “defensive-minded.”

Four games into the season and Byron Scott has already set a horrible precedence for this young Lakers team. How can he expect D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle to respect his criticism or advice, when he lets Kobe Bryant shoot contested, flat footed 3-pointers throughout the game then says he’s “fine” with his shot selection.

Young players, more than anything need consistency. They need a coach who incites ethos, a coach who they respect because he always has their best interest in mind. Byron Scott is not that coach.

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If this league has shown anything, it is that talk is cheap. With the way social media is set up, saying one thing then doing another is just the beginning of your downfall. As of now, Scott has done just that.

More so, similar to how Scott treats Bryant, blatantly ignoring all of his faults, the Lakers media and front office tends to do the same in regards to Scott. This goes to say, when discussing the Lakers, you rarely hear commentators criticizing Scott for his terrible decision making, the way they have so often done with former coaches.

Further, where is Magic Johnson now that the organization needs him most? Since endorsing his ex-Showtime Laker companion, Johnson has had little to say despite the fact that, by now, Scott criticism is low hanging fruit, Magic’s favorite.

The Lakers aren’t used to being the laughing stock of the league, but that is exactly what they have become. You knew the coaching rumors would come sooner or later, so here’s what, current favorite heir to the throne, Tom Thibodeau would bring to Los Angeles.

Tom Thibodeau

To explain in a single word: defense.

Despite his reputation for running his players into the ground, coach Tom Thibodeau would be a huge upgrade over Byron Scott. Though the argument that Thibs coached in the Eastern Conference is valid, his past five Chicago Bulls teams finished third in the East twice, then fifth, then first in the entire league in back to back seasons.

Keep in mind, Derrick Rose missed almost two full seasons between 2012 to 2014.

Translation: Thibs led Jimmy Butler, Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson, and a pack of relative no-names to the playoffs multiple times. If he could do so with the Bulls, imagine what could be done with the boundless potential talent that the Lakers currently possess down the line.

Through four games, the Lakers are allowing a league worst 116.8 points a contest on nearly 50 percent shooting. Up until last year, Thibs’ Bulls ranked in the top five in defensive efficiency per ESPN’s John Hollinger. Conventional wisdom states that defense wins championships — the past five NBA Champions ranked in the Top Ten of defensive efficiency ratings — so Coach Thibodeau would be a welcomed addition to the coaching staff.

Another area, that doesn’t get much press is Coach Thibodeau’s ability to develop his young players. Though Derrick Rose was destined to be a star in this league, Thibodeau showed his mentoring prowess, helping develop Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson, the 30th and 26th overall picks respectively, into formidable NBA players. Though it could be a few years before the Lakers young seedlings begin to bud, Thibs could work wonders with the Lakers young core.

Up until recently, the Lakers showed public interest in Coach Thibodeau. Having an established track record of firing head coaches five games in the season can give Lakers fans hope of a brighter day, however far fetched.

The fact of the matter is, the Lakers wouldn’t even necessarily need to fire Scott, they could even bring Thibodeau on as an assistant coach to serve as a “defensive coordinator,” if they really wanted to save face. Whether or not he’d accept the position remains to be seen.

Next: Lakers v. Nuggets: Recap, Grades, Stock Watch

If Byron Scott were to be let go, who would you like to see as the next head coach of the Lakers? Let us know in the comments below.

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