Lakers: Byron Scott Has No Place Coaching in Los Angeles

Dec 7, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Lakers head coach Byron Scott looks on against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Lakers 102-93. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 7, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Lakers head coach Byron Scott looks on against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Lakers 102-93. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

Byron Scott is possibly the worst coach in the history of the Lakers franchise for many reasons

Byron Scott took over coaching the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2014-15 season, ending the Lakers’ season with their worst franchise record at 21-61. One could say that, in Scott’s defense, Kobe Bryant was out for the season with an injury. However, Bryant is playing this season, and the Lakers still have a 7-27 record.

The Lakers had a chance to re-sign the legendary Phil Jackson, but miscommunicated their plans for the coaching search at the time and ultimately elected to hire Mike D’Antoni. After D’Antoni resigned after the 2013-14 season, the Lakers hired Scott as his successor. Now here we are.

The Lakers have a very young core, which makes Scott’s job even tougher. Young players need a coach that knows it takes patience for players to adjust in the league. They need someone that will have patience with them and transform them into better players. What they don’t need is a coach that’s only been over .500 five times within his 17 seasons of coaching.

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Scott has already been bumping heads with two of the most crucial players to his team, D’Angelo Russell and Julius Randle. First, Scott took away their positions in the starting lineup, sending a message that’s still unclear. Then, Scott took to the media to call his team “scared,” yet again creating an excuse as to why he can’t win.

Scott is not laying any blame on himself or saying that he could possibly do better as a coach. Scott wants to believe that, because he has such a young core, then it must be the only reason that his team is losing. That’s primarily the head coach’s problem; he wants to focus on changing and shuffling the players on the roster, but never wants to change any of his coaching strategies.

The Lakers are in the rebuilding process and they have the perfect core to build around going forward right now. Any young team like this struggles with other teams in the league because the majority of the league already have their teams built. It’s going to take a coach that will be able to overcome the adversity of being in the rebuilding process with the Lakers while still keeping things optimistic.

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