The Lakers’ current dysfunction is apparent, but enough is enough
The Lakers have all the pieces necessary to begin preparing for a future without Kobe Bryant
They are practically one Hassan Whiteside away from becoming a switch heavy, athletic monster, à la the Milwaukee Bucks, that Zach Lowe so aptly described as “a rotating hydra that can cover ground faster than anyone, and switch across three, four or even five positions.”
A lineup of D’Angelo Russell–Jordan Clarkson–Anthony Brown–Julius Randle plus one, was assumed to be the one to welcome in a new era of basketball for the Lakers.
But at 3-18, it it nearly impossible to see the light at the end of the tunnel, and team morale is at an all time low. Further, it doesn’t help that Byron Scott is one move away from completely losing the locker room.
If Gregg Popovich is like a fine wine, getting better everyday, then Byron Scott is like milk, inching ever closer to his inevitable expiration date.
It was recently revealed that Los Angeles was “swayed” to choose D’Angelo Russell over big men Kristaps Porzingis and Jahlil Okafor because “ Scott favored the flashy point guard from Ohio State.”
That said, now that Scott has benched Russell, the front office is apparently confused, and rightly so.
"With Scott favoring Russell over two big men, the front office is reportedly confounded with his decision to bench their point guard of the future. While the Lakers were not expected to make the playoffs in the Western Conference, there were expectations they would focus on player development this season to prepare for the post-Kobe Bryant era."
When the front office is confused with your coaching tactics, it’s only a matter of time before changes are made. More so, when your number one priority (winning games) directly counters theirs (player development), conflict is certain.
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Seeing that Scott refuses to bench Kobe, or even reduce his minutes, he must understand that benching Russell and Randle is devastating in more ways than one.
In addition to completely destroying any confidence they may have been building, it creates an even bigger rift in the locker room, and most importantly sacrifices their development, for failed attempts to gain wins that mean nothing.
Ironically, its the two seemingly most even-keeled players that are beginning to sound off on Byron.
The flood gates of passive-aggressive criticism opened when Nick Young called out Kobe’s shot selection, and continues to flow now, with even Russell becoming less censored with every loss.
On pleasing his coach, Russell stated:
"I’m not trying to show him anything. I’m really trying to show myself and my teammates that I belong out there, not the coach. Because they’re looking to me for the play, not past me to him for the play. It’s a growing experience."
Russell took another subtle shot at Scott, saying:
"It’s real tough trying to make everybody happy as a young point guard. It’s even tougher because you’re not really getting an opportunity to learn from your mistakes. Coach is making his decisions, and I just ride with it."
It is only a matter of time until the more outspoken characters in the locker room — the Julius Randles and Kobe Bryants — begin to sound off on their frustrations to the press and at that point, the damage may be irreversible.
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Sure, Kobe may be enjoying his farewell tour now, but at the end of the day, he’s still Kobe Bryant, and Kobe Bryant despises losing.
Up until benching Russell and Randle, Scott’s decision making was highly questionable, but it’s become downright intolerable, bordering on criminal.
Losing games, while embarrassing, was bearable considering their draft pick situation.
But now that Scott is purposely attempting to break his young players to teach them a lesson and ruin the franchise’s hope of a better tomorrow, it is time for the front office to make the move they’ve been dreading and fire Byron Scott.
Next: Will Byron Scott Still Be Coaching the Lakers Next Week?
Enough is enough, Mitch.