Nov 16, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach Byron Scott watches on from the sidelines during the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Lakers 120-101. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
As Lakers losses pile up, Byron Scott’s coaching is still to blame
The Lakers lost another game Sunday night, this one to the Portland Trail Blazers 90 to 81. The team is about to embark on a stretch where ten of the next eleven games are on the road, so the losses are expected to continue. This record is not really a surprise given the number of young players on the roster and the overall lack of talent among the veterans, but the situation is exacerbated by the coaching staff which appears unable to see the forest through the trees.
It all comes down to making a firm decision on what the goal for this season should be and sticking with it. The coaching staff vacillates from day to day on this question. The fact is, the only mission should be to develop the young players so in the second half of the season, or next year, the team begins to show real, consistent signs of improvement. Instead, by their actions, the coaching staff is prioritizing wins versus losses this year, which is meaningless.
How else can one explain the decision to play Kobe Bryant, Lou Williams, Brandon Bass, Metta World Peace, and Nick Young so many minutes, while relegating Anthony Brown, Tarik Black, and Larry Nance, Jr. to the bench? How does one justify cutting Robert Upshaw and Jabari Brown while Robert Sacre remains on the roster, but does not even dress for games? The irony is, the Lakers won’t win any more games with the veterans taking the lead but Byron Scott thinks they will, which is troubling since he is the coach and thus in theory should know better.
The questionable decisions of the coaching staff were on full display in the recent game against the Trail Blazers. Here is a synopsis of the key mistakes the coaches made in that game which was a microcosm of the season so far.
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