Lakers: 5 Reasons Why Giving Byron Scott Credit for Success is Wrong

Mar 8, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach Byron Scott reacts in the second half of the game against the Orlando Magic at Staples Center. The Lakers won 107-98. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 8, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach Byron Scott reacts in the second half of the game against the Orlando Magic at Staples Center. The Lakers won 107-98. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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January 26, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach Byron Scott watches game action against Dallas Mavericks during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
January 26, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach Byron Scott watches game action against Dallas Mavericks during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Byron the Politician

With it being an election year and candidates speaking virtually every hour of every day, anyone with ears is becoming accustomed to hearing politicians speaking about intangible qualities regarding various issues so that they can easily maneuver out of certain situations in the future if they need to. If that sounds familiar to Lakers fans, that’s because it’s exactly the strategy that Scott has employed for most of the season.

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Scott’s quotes with the media have largely been a punch-line among Lakers fans as the coach talks about guys he’d “want in the foxhole with him,” “manning up,” and other immeasurable qualities. For a coach in his position where his job is clearly on the line moving forward, it’s undoubtedly a smart tactic. Now that things are turning around and the young core of the Lakers is showing process, Scott can credit the fact that he was right and that the young players are now “manning up” or whatever other cliche he prefers in that moment.

Though the confidence of the young players may have been restored as of late, that’s not something that is of Scott’s doing. In fact, the argument could easily be made that these players wouldn’t have lacked confidence if it wasn’t for Scott’s befuddling decision-making throughout the season. He spoke like a true politician throughout the season, but that doesn’t mean fans should fall for his tactics just because his previous stances left the door open for him to credit himself if something like this happened.

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