Lakers: 5 Biggest Mistakes From First Half of Season

Jan 12, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA;Los Angeles Lakers forward Julius Randle (30) collides into New Orleans Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson (33) at Staples Center. The Lakers won 95-91. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 12, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA;Los Angeles Lakers forward Julius Randle (30) collides into New Orleans Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson (33) at Staples Center. The Lakers won 95-91. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
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Jan 12, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach Byron Scott (R) huddles with his players against the New Orleans Pelicans at Staples Center. The Lakers won 95-91. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 12, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach Byron Scott (R) huddles with his players against the New Orleans Pelicans at Staples Center. The Lakers won 95-91. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Lakers have made plenty of mistakes over the first half of the season, but these are the five most egregious

Over the past few months the Los Angeles Lakers have compiled an embarrassing 9-31 record and, before this year is over, are likely to set yet another franchise record for most losses in a season. Their play has been so bad that at times they hardly resemble an NBA team. The squad has been dogged all season by poor play, poor coaching, and poor leadership.

It is not a surprise that the Lakers have a losing record, but no one predicted it would be this bad. Management assembled a mismatched roster that is too heavy on guards and power forwards and light at every other position. Who would have predicted that at the midway point of the season, unheralded Anthony Brown and Larry Nance, Jr. would be starters while the faces of the franchise and the team’s highest draft choices in over 30 years, D’Angelo Russell and Julius Randle, would be languishing on the bench.

There have been many mistakes made so far by the coaching staff and front office that contributed to the team’s current plight. They cannot turn things around until they acknowledge these mistakes and vow to correct them. There is half a season to be played and, if they use the time wisely, they can still complete what should be the primary mission of fully evaluating their young talent and building some positive momentum going into free agency this summer and next season.

Here are the five biggest mistakes made by the franchise so far this season, in order. Hopefully some of these errors will be corrected soon.

Next: No. 5 Filling the Roster With Unusable Pieces