News 'n Views - Feb 2016: Lakers believe they can meld new offensive set with Kobe’s presence
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oldschool32
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PostPosted: Tue Feb 23, 2016 5:19 pm    Post subject:

lakersfreak wrote:
Why all the animosity toward Lakers Coach Byron Scott? Firing him won't change anything
by Dylan Hernandez - latimes.com

Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak might not be saying anything about Coach Byron Scott, but the fans are making their voices heard, whether it's on the radio airwaves or in the comments section under the online versions of Mike Bresnahan's stories. Their pitchforks are out. They want Scott fired.

The blood thirst is curious, considering how well this season has unfolded.

Seriously.

The team's 11-47 record? Who cares? Look at the roster. This team never had a chance.

If anything, the historically awful record should bolster Scott's stealth candidacy for Coach of the Year. Remember, the Lakers' first-round selection in the upcoming draft will belong to the Philadelphia 76ers unless it falls in the top three, meaning every loss is in fact a win and every win a loss. What looks like the second-worst record in the NBA is actually the second-best, as far as the Lakers are concerned. This draft pick, which could be turned into Ben Simmons of LSU or Brandon Ingram of Duke, is probably their single-most effective vehicle to climb back into contention.

More ridiculous is the criticism directed at Scott and the Lakers for allowing Kobe Bryant's farewell to dictate their season.

While Bryant's final months as an active player are being extensively chronicled, what's been understated is the strangely electric atmosphere at Staples Center. It's as if Bryant is now a religious figure. Or Donald Trump.

Bryant touches the ball, and the arena buzzes. He knocks down a routine shot, and the fans react as if he sank a buzzer-beater in a conference final.

Allowing Bryant to showcase what remains of his once-in-a-generation ability isn't a problem. It's basic customer service. He's about the only reason fans are paying as much as they are to watch some really dreadful basketball. Bryant should be permitted to shoot as much as he wants, whenever he wants.

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Why do people always do this when they discuss Byron? Nobody is worried about the lack of talent on the roster, it isn't just about the team's record. Will someone PLEASE let the media/reporters know that you could put Magic, Michael, Larry, and Wilt in this horrid offense and they wouldn't win anything. There is no player movement, no ball movement, and they are so predicatable it's a big joke at this point.

As someone else said, his teams consistently rank near last in defense. That is a trend that started well before coaching the Lakers. The rotations are a bigger joke. He has played Clarkson for the entire 1st quarter and then brings him back in with 2-3 minutes left in the half, and that's just one questionable part of his rotation.
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 24, 2016 7:06 am    Post subject:

TDIKH: February 23, 2010
by nba.com

With 10 seconds left, Kobe Bryant’s game-tying layup was swatted away by Rudy Gay. So rather than try to knot it up again, Bryant simply cashed in a game-winning 3-pointer.

The reigning NBA Finals MVP struck from 26 feet away and the clock at 4.3 seconds to capture a 99-98 victory in Memphis.

“Only in Hollywood, I guess,” Bryant told reporters. “It’s fun. It’s my responsibility to make plays down the stretch. I enjoy it.”

Bryant dropped 32 points by shooting 13-of-19 after missing the Lakers’ previous five games due to an ankle injury.

He helped the Lakers to a 27-16 lead after the first quarter, but Memphis roared back by outscoring the Lakers in the middle periods, 65-49.

But Bryant saved his best for last, providing all of the Lakers’ last nine points, including the game-winner.

“Nobody in the world is shocked anymore by what Kobe Bryant does and what he brings to the team,” said Pau Gasol, who had 22 points and 13 rebounds.

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PostPosted: Wed Feb 24, 2016 7:09 am    Post subject:

Lakers made the right choice drafting D'Angelo Russell over Jahlil Okafor
by Harrison Faigen - silverscreenandroll.com

Revisiting the draft day dilemna towards the end of Russell and Okafor's rookie campaigns.

From the moment the Los Angeles Lakers selected D'Angelo Russell with the second-overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, the cries began. "The Lakers should have taken Jahlil Okafor!" said a certain sub-sect of Lakers fans, a sentiment that only increased when Russell struggled mightily during Las Vegas Summer League and the preseason. The rookie point guard's start to the regular season wasn't much better, and the declarations that the Lakers had made a mistake intensified as Okafor averaged 17.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in November while Russell averaged 10.7/4.9/3.1 in those categories over the same period, respectively.

But what the box score watchers and "the Lakers should have stuck with drafting centers" narrative pushers missed as Okafor continued to stuff the stat sheet on the only team arguably more awful than the Lakers was:

1) Almost every Lakers center of note was acquired in a trade or through free agency, so their organizational tradition of drafting Hall of Fame big men was always a bit overstated by some media personalities in the lead up to the draft.

And

2) Russell's improvement.

The Lakers' rookie point guard has improved in almost every statistical category since the beginning of the season, averaging 13.3 points per game on 44.6 percent shooting (46.4 percent from behind the arc) to go with 3.6 assists and 2.9 rebounds in the month of February, his shooting efficiency rising as the season has went along.

While those averages may not sound impressive compared to Okafor's larger stat lines (17.4 points and 7.2 rebounds per game on 50 percent shooting this season), when digging a little deeper it becomes easier to argue that the Lakers made the right choice, especially considering the direction the league is shifting.

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PostPosted: Wed Feb 24, 2016 7:11 am    Post subject:

Julius Randle has a good shot at a fruitful NBA career, if he can develop a good shot
by Mike Bresnahan - latimes.com

Talk to the Lakers' shooting coach about 21-year-old forward Julius Randle and you'll probably hear quotes attributed to famous basketball people.

Tracy Murray will remind you of John Wooden's "Be quick but don't hurry" mantra. Or he'll mention Reggie Miller, who had an unusual shooting style but deadly accuracy and would say, "It's not just your form that matters."

As the Lakers try to unlock the subtle mysteries of the No. 7 pick in the 2014 NBA draft, shooting coach Murray sounds wise, taking the long view on a player who's a bit short to play power forward but makes up for it with extra effort.

That shot, though. Oh, that outside shot.

If Randle could drain 16-footers with the same zeal he tracks rebounds, the Lakers would have a real player on their hands.

As it is, his 23 double-doubles this season lead all second-year big men, a stat the Lakers point to with a smile. It's impressive, though to add some perspective, Minnesota's Karl-Anthony Towns leads all rookies with 32 double-doubles.

Randle, listed at 6 feet 9, obviously gets the rebounding part, leaving the Lakers to work on his shot. It's where Wooden's words come into play.

Randle easily takes a defensive rebound and moves the length of the court with it. But then his attempt at the basket is often askew. He also tends to hurry when fed the ball in the post.

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PostPosted: Wed Feb 24, 2016 7:13 am    Post subject:

Jordan Clarkson says he's the most underrated player in the NBA
by Harrison Faigen - silverscreenandroll.com

He's certainly not the least confident.

After a rookie season spent as the breakout star of the Los Angeles Lakers, Jordan Clarkson's shine has dulled in the eyes of many during his sophomore campaign. Clarkson has suffered from the same struggles as many sequels in that the traits that were so great initially look less impressive the second time around, while at the same time some of his flaws (defense) have been made more apparent by the additional exposure.

All of this has led Clarkson to think he is the most underrated player in the NBA, the second-year guard wrote in a short "fill in the blank" style Q&A on the Player's tribune. While it's hard to gauge how various players are rated and people can endlessly argue about such arbitrary distinctions, Clarkson does have a case.

Clarkson's 2015-16 averages of 15.5 points per game on 45 percent shooting (37.1 percent from behind the arc) to go with four rebounds per game are all better than his rookie season averages, although he has averaged nearly one less assist per game. This production has stood out less while many pay more attention to the Lakers' two most recent lottery picks, D'Angelo Russell and Julius Randle, but it is impressive that Clarkson has been able to increase his production while using less of the Lakers' possessions and spending more time in an off of the ball role due to the team's offseason additions of Russell and Lou Williams, and the return of Kobe Bryant.

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PostPosted: Wed Feb 24, 2016 7:14 am    Post subject:

How will Lakers’ D’Angelo Russell, Julius Randle & Jordan Clarkson develop together?
by Mark Medina - dailynews.com

As they relished feeding off of each other, D’Angelo Russell pulled Julius Randle to the side.

The two initially sounded confused when Lakers coach Byron Scott stripped away their starting positions nearly two months ago both to humble them and spark better results. But with Scott granting Russell his starting position back this week, the Lakers’ rookie point guard spent his first appearance outlining his long-term goal to his young teammate.

“Let’s grow together,” Russell told Randle.

In a season destined for a third consecutive missed playoff appearance, Russell’s words partly explained the purpose in the remaining 24 games, including when the Lakers (11-46) visit the Memphis Grizzlies (32-23) today at FedEx Forum.

Kobe Bryant will continue his farewell tour to commemorate his 20th and final NBA season. But Russell, Randle and Jordan Clarkson will also start together in hopes of expediting their development and establishing some clarity on the franchise’s long-term prospects.

“It’s about time we learn from each other,” Russell said. “When one of them or myself mess up, we can figure out how to grow on it.”

Scott said he expects that trio to “get better at every little thing” during that time. But until this point, Russell, Randle and Clarkson rarely had a chance to do that collectively.

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PostPosted: Wed Feb 24, 2016 2:42 pm    Post subject:

Byron Scott - We're not going to lose on purpose
by Mike Bresnahan - latimes.com

Byron Scott has another message for Lakers followers who want them to lose.

Sorry, the team is going to keep trying to win.

For the second consecutive season, the Lakers’ draft pick will be surrendered if they fall below a certain spot in the May 17 lottery.

Last year, they had to finish with a top-five pick to keep it. They moved from fourth to second on lottery night and took D’Angelo Russell.

This year, the wiggle room is smaller. Their first-round pick is only top-three protected or else they have to surrender it because of the Steve Nash trade.

The Lakers (11-47) own the NBA’s second-worst record going into Wednesday night’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies.

If they stay in that position, they would have a 55.83% chance of keeping the pick on lottery night — a 19.9% shot at the No. 1 pick, 18.81% at No. 2 and 17.12% at the third pick.

It’s the second annual Lakers quandary — losing now helps them in the lottery later. But Scott doesn’t want to hear about it.

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PostPosted: Wed Feb 24, 2016 2:43 pm    Post subject:

Kobe Bryant amused over becoming NBA’s ‘voice of reason’
by Mark Medina - dailynews.com

The concept made Kobe Bryant laugh. The Lakers’ standout player also considered it absurd.

Bryant has butted heads with teammates and coaches. He has had some off-court issues. And Bryant’s high-volume shooting and demanding personality has sparked tension.

Now, Bryant’s only issues when the Lakers (11-47) visit the Memphis Grizzlies (32-23) on Wednesday at FedEx Forum will entail the team’s collective struggles as well as his fluctuating health. In recent years leading up to his 20th and final NBA season, Bryant has become the league’s elderly statesmen full of wisdom and perspective.

“With me in 2001, if you were to say you’re going to fast forward in 2016 and you’re going to be a voice of reason and sage in the NBA, we all would sit there and say, ‘No way,’ ” Bryant said, chuckling. “You have to be kidding me. It shows you how much through sports a person can actually grow. It’s pretty unbelievable.”

Bryant believed he has grown on the court, and the achievements go beyond collecting championships (five), scoring points (33,305) or landing an eventual Hall of Fame induction. Bryant said he has also improved his communication, unselfishness and attention to detail, tenets that he said has applied both to his personal and professional life.

“Sports is such a beautiful metaphor for life as a whole if we pay attention to the jewels that are there,” Bryant said. “I felt like I certainly have.”

So much that Bryant has seemingly become an authoritative voice on seemingly any topic, stemmed from both his talent and honesty.

He will praise opposing team’s players and outline how they can improve. Bryant will share stories about his careers that tie into each opponent. He will also explain how the NBA’s next generation of players can follow his path.

“I never allowed anybody to tell me what I was capable of accomplishing or letting anyone tell me I can’t do it. I went after it and put all my eggs in one basket,” Bryant said. “Hopefully they have that same mentality. If they want to accomplish something or do something people think is difficult to accomplish, you have to put all your eggs in one basket. There’s no compromise with that. I hope that this younger generation of players understand that. I’ll be around to help along the way as well.”

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PostPosted: Wed Feb 24, 2016 2:44 pm    Post subject:

Kobe Bryant founds Kobe Studios as part of his Newport Beach company
by Janis Carr - ocregister.com

Kobe Bryant has been writing his life story for more than two decades, a tale of a young phenom who reaches NBA glory through victories, controversy, injuries and thousands of fadeaway jumpers. It’s a narrative he has constructed on courts from Los Angeles to Beijing, and recently told in a feature video called “Muse.”

As his career comes to a celebrated end, Bryant, a 17-time All-Star, five-time NBA champion and future Hall of Famer, now is looking to create more narratives closer to home. But they won’t be about him.

And that’s the point Bryant wants to make moving forward. It’s not about him anymore. Bryant told The Orange County Register he has founded Kobe Studios, an arm of Kobe Inc., in an effort to bring others’ stories to life in a variety of media.

Kobe Inc. is a multi-level business headquartered in Newport Beach and something of a creative factory for Bryant. He spends long hours coming up with ideas for his new venture.

“What my passion is now is creating the story,” Bryant told the Register. “Creating the story and finding the best possible way, the medium which that story can live.”

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PostPosted: Wed Feb 24, 2016 2:44 pm    Post subject:

TDIKH: February 24, 2013
by nba.com

Two days after Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban suggested in a radio interview that the Lakers might consider using the amnesty clause to let go of Kobe Bryant, the future Hall of Famer put a show on in Cuban’s building.

“Amnesty THAT,” Bryant tweeted after scoring 38 points in a 103-99 win in Dallas.

Bryant shot 13-of-21 from the field, including 4-of-5 on 3-pointers, while also collecting 12 rebounds and seven assists.

The Laker was brilliant in a 14-point fourth quarter. The Mavericks took an 82-80 lead, but Bryant hit back-to-back-to-back shots, though Dallas nonetheless extended its lead to 90-87.

From there, the Lakers rolled off seven unanswered points to take the lead for good.

Bryant — who also eclipsed the career 31,000-point mark — scored seven himself in the final three minutes to win his duel with Dirk Nowitzki (30 points, 13 rebounds).

“He’s been the best player in my decade,” Nowitzki told reporters. “I’ve been in the NBA a long time and he’s the one player I love to watch.”

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PostPosted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 7:24 am    Post subject:

D'Angelo Russell says the Lakers always have 'one or two guys sleeping' on defense
by Harrison Faigen - silverscreenandroll.com

He's not wrong.

The Los Angeles Lakers lost again in Kobe Bryant's final game in Memphis on Wednesday night. It was the team's 48th loss in 59 games, the second worst record in the league. While there were still some positives, mainly Jordan Clarkson setting a career high by knocking down six three-pointers, and D'Angelo Russell setting a career/season high of his own with eight assists, the latter young guard realizes that the Lakers' problems lie on the other end of the floor.

"[Memphis] ran their offense to perfection. We have trouble communicating for a full possession," Russell told reporters after the game. "We never really had all five guys locked in on defense, always either one or two guys sleeping." The inattention Russell observed from the Lakers was at least in part responsible for the team being outscored 54-30 in the paint, with Memphis scoring repeatedly on a parade of cuts to the rim.

Russell wasn't blameless in this, but he also isn't wrong to call out the team for something that has been a season-long issue and a major factor in the Lakers' last ranked defense giving up 109.4 points per 100 possessions. And while Russell has his faults as a defender, he has not been the primary issue on that side of the ball for Los Angeles. Opponents have scored 109.2 points per 100 possessions when Russell is on the court, which isn't great, but is substantially better than the rates of some of his fellow wings like Clarkson (111.5), Lou Williams (111.4), and Bryant (113.5, the worst defensive rating on the team).

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PostPosted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 7:26 am    Post subject:

Byron Scott praises D'Angelo Russell for offensive growth
by Bill Oram - ocregister.com

The relationship between D’Angelo Russell and Byron Scott has been one of this season’s most intriguing subplots.

Scott has been quick to criticize, or offer frank analysis of Russell’s rookie season. when Russell plays well, he points to the areas in which Russell could improve.

Fair or not, the narrative that has developed is that Scott is tougher on Russell, and is holding back praise.

After the rookie scored 22 points and added a career high eight assists during Wednesday’s 128-119 loss in Memphis, Scott explained on the Time Warner Cable SportsNet broadcast in which areas he has seen the most improvement from the No. 2 pick in the draft.

“Overall I think his game has gotten much better as far as variety,” Scott said, “and not just settling on one thing.”

Russell scored his points with a variety of moves, including four 3-pointers – the one area Scott said he thinks Russell still settles too often.

“I think the biggest thing is just the mid-range and getting to the rim a little bit more,” Scott said. “That was something he wasn’t doing earlier in the season, really settling on the jump shots a lot.”

Russell has said returning to the starting lineup over the past three games has been an adjustment, which his most senior teammates said is only natural.

“It’s really hard coming off the bench to establish the game,” Kobe Bryant said, “especially as a point guard, because you’re always chasing the game.”

It’s an adjustment Russell only plans on having to make once.

“I’m not going to try to give him (Scott) a reason to bench me again. That’s all that really matters.”

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PostPosted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 7:27 am    Post subject:

Kobe Bryant gets Vince Carter with a vintage move and perfect reaction (Video)
by Drew Garrison - silverscreenandroll.com

A little nostalgia with two stars of a fading era.

There's only so much time left with Kobe Bryant, so even moments like this one, with Vince Carter, seem pretty amazing when you consider the careers both stars enjoyed. Kobe got his old rival with some footwork, draining a tough shot and shooting him a perfect reaction on the other end:

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PostPosted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 8:28 am    Post subject:

oldschool32 wrote:
lakersfreak wrote:
Why all the animosity toward Lakers Coach Byron Scott? Firing him won't change anything
by Dylan Hernandez - latimes.com

Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak might not be saying anything about Coach Byron Scott, but the fans are making their voices heard, whether it's on the radio airwaves or in the comments section under the online versions of Mike Bresnahan's stories. Their pitchforks are out. They want Scott fired.

The blood thirst is curious, considering how well this season has unfolded.

Seriously.

The team's 11-47 record? Who cares? Look at the roster. This team never had a chance.

If anything, the historically awful record should bolster Scott's stealth candidacy for Coach of the Year. Remember, the Lakers' first-round selection in the upcoming draft will belong to the Philadelphia 76ers unless it falls in the top three, meaning every loss is in fact a win and every win a loss. What looks like the second-worst record in the NBA is actually the second-best, as far as the Lakers are concerned. This draft pick, which could be turned into Ben Simmons of LSU or Brandon Ingram of Duke, is probably their single-most effective vehicle to climb back into contention.

More ridiculous is the criticism directed at Scott and the Lakers for allowing Kobe Bryant's farewell to dictate their season.

While Bryant's final months as an active player are being extensively chronicled, what's been understated is the strangely electric atmosphere at Staples Center. It's as if Bryant is now a religious figure. Or Donald Trump.

Bryant touches the ball, and the arena buzzes. He knocks down a routine shot, and the fans react as if he sank a buzzer-beater in a conference final.

Allowing Bryant to showcase what remains of his once-in-a-generation ability isn't a problem. It's basic customer service. He's about the only reason fans are paying as much as they are to watch some really dreadful basketball. Bryant should be permitted to shoot as much as he wants, whenever he wants.

Continued....


Why do people always do this when they discuss Byron? Nobody is worried about the lack of talent on the roster, it isn't just about the team's record. Will someone PLEASE let the media/reporters know that you could put Magic, Michael, Larry, and Wilt in this horrid offense and they wouldn't win anything. There is no player movement, no ball movement, and they are so predicatable it's a big joke at this point.

As someone else said, his teams consistently rank near last in defense. That is a trend that started well before coaching the Lakers. The rotations are a bigger joke. He has played Clarkson for the entire 1st quarter and then brings him back in with 2-3 minutes left in the half, and that's just one questionable part of his rotation.


Disagree.

Missing shots...not coaches fault.
Not getting back on D...not coaches fault.
Holding the ball the entire clock and going ISO (JC)...not coaches fault.
Having a weak roster compared to other NBA teams...not coaches fault.

Brooklyn, 76ers, Suns, and Lakers are all in the same boat because of the makeup of their roster. Every team above 20 wins has one-to-three superstars who aren't a rookie or coming off major injury. Byron Scott is just the Laker fans' scapegoat for a horrid season, even though most logical people would have expected the losses. If we allow the fans to choose who starts and who coaches the team, we will continue to lose. If we start recycling coaches every other year, we will be sure to detract FAs and draft prospects.
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PostPosted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 8:56 am    Post subject:

nshid wrote:
oldschool32 wrote:
lakersfreak wrote:
Why all the animosity toward Lakers Coach Byron Scott? Firing him won't change anything
by Dylan Hernandez - latimes.com

Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak might not be saying anything about Coach Byron Scott, but the fans are making their voices heard, whether it's on the radio airwaves or in the comments section under the online versions of Mike Bresnahan's stories. Their pitchforks are out. They want Scott fired.

The blood thirst is curious, considering how well this season has unfolded.

Seriously.

The team's 11-47 record? Who cares? Look at the roster. This team never had a chance.

If anything, the historically awful record should bolster Scott's stealth candidacy for Coach of the Year. Remember, the Lakers' first-round selection in the upcoming draft will belong to the Philadelphia 76ers unless it falls in the top three, meaning every loss is in fact a win and every win a loss. What looks like the second-worst record in the NBA is actually the second-best, as far as the Lakers are concerned. This draft pick, which could be turned into Ben Simmons of LSU or Brandon Ingram of Duke, is probably their single-most effective vehicle to climb back into contention.

More ridiculous is the criticism directed at Scott and the Lakers for allowing Kobe Bryant's farewell to dictate their season.

While Bryant's final months as an active player are being extensively chronicled, what's been understated is the strangely electric atmosphere at Staples Center. It's as if Bryant is now a religious figure. Or Donald Trump.

Bryant touches the ball, and the arena buzzes. He knocks down a routine shot, and the fans react as if he sank a buzzer-beater in a conference final.

Allowing Bryant to showcase what remains of his once-in-a-generation ability isn't a problem. It's basic customer service. He's about the only reason fans are paying as much as they are to watch some really dreadful basketball. Bryant should be permitted to shoot as much as he wants, whenever he wants.

Continued....


Why do people always do this when they discuss Byron? Nobody is worried about the lack of talent on the roster, it isn't just about the team's record. Will someone PLEASE let the media/reporters know that you could put Magic, Michael, Larry, and Wilt in this horrid offense and they wouldn't win anything. There is no player movement, no ball movement, and they are so predicatable it's a big joke at this point.

As someone else said, his teams consistently rank near last in defense. That is a trend that started well before coaching the Lakers. The rotations are a bigger joke. He has played Clarkson for the entire 1st quarter and then brings him back in with 2-3 minutes left in the half, and that's just one questionable part of his rotation.


Disagree.

Missing shots...not coaches fault.
Not getting back on D...not coaches fault.
Holding the ball the entire clock and going ISO (JC)...not coaches fault.
Having a weak roster compared to other NBA teams...not coaches fault.

Brooklyn, 76ers, Suns, and Lakers are all in the same boat because of the makeup of their roster. Every team above 20 wins has one-to-three superstars who aren't a rookie or coming off major injury. Byron Scott is just the Laker fans' scapegoat for a horrid season, even though most logical people would have expected the losses. If we allow the fans to choose who starts and who coaches the team, we will continue to lose. If we start recycling coaches every other year, we will be sure to detract FAs and draft prospects.


Again... this is simply not true. This does not explain teams like Boston, Portland and Utah being in playoff contention with comparable talent levels to the Lakers. People don't think Quin Snyder, Terry Stotts and Brad Stevens have anything to do with their mediocre rosters competing every single night? Even Denver is on pace to win 30+ games with a bunch of 20 year olds. That's almost exclusively on Mike Malone and his encouragement to the youth to play through their mistakes.

If the "talent" excuse held true, the Kings would not have a losing record with a roster that includes Rondo, Cousins and Gay, Casspi. Cousins is unarguably one of the best players in the league, but George Karl's defensive schemes are not conducive to winning - he also doesn't play one of their best defensive guards in Seth Curry.

The coaching blunders and rotations ruin otherwise competitive games for the Lakers. For example, playing a front line that includes Bass-Nance or Bass-Randle is just asking for the opposition to drive inside and outrebound us. Tarik Black should not be playing less than 20 minutes a game. He's proven he can rack up rebounds in a short amount of time and provide some interior protection.

The whole no-talent excuse does not hold true in today's game. A mediocre team can win 30 games alone with spacing, ball movement and PnR play. The Lakers are talented enough to score over 100 points a game. Their defensive shortcomings can be mitigated by playing guys like Black and Brown.
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PostPosted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 9:29 am    Post subject:

Mindripper2000 wrote:
nshid wrote:
oldschool32 wrote:
lakersfreak wrote:
Why all the animosity toward Lakers Coach Byron Scott? Firing him won't change anything
by Dylan Hernandez - latimes.com

Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak might not be saying anything about Coach Byron Scott, but the fans are making their voices heard, whether it's on the radio airwaves or in the comments section under the online versions of Mike Bresnahan's stories. Their pitchforks are out. They want Scott fired.

The blood thirst is curious, considering how well this season has unfolded.

Seriously.

The team's 11-47 record? Who cares? Look at the roster. This team never had a chance.

If anything, the historically awful record should bolster Scott's stealth candidacy for Coach of the Year. Remember, the Lakers' first-round selection in the upcoming draft will belong to the Philadelphia 76ers unless it falls in the top three, meaning every loss is in fact a win and every win a loss. What looks like the second-worst record in the NBA is actually the second-best, as far as the Lakers are concerned. This draft pick, which could be turned into Ben Simmons of LSU or Brandon Ingram of Duke, is probably their single-most effective vehicle to climb back into contention.

More ridiculous is the criticism directed at Scott and the Lakers for allowing Kobe Bryant's farewell to dictate their season.

While Bryant's final months as an active player are being extensively chronicled, what's been understated is the strangely electric atmosphere at Staples Center. It's as if Bryant is now a religious figure. Or Donald Trump.

Bryant touches the ball, and the arena buzzes. He knocks down a routine shot, and the fans react as if he sank a buzzer-beater in a conference final.

Allowing Bryant to showcase what remains of his once-in-a-generation ability isn't a problem. It's basic customer service. He's about the only reason fans are paying as much as they are to watch some really dreadful basketball. Bryant should be permitted to shoot as much as he wants, whenever he wants.

Continued....


Why do people always do this when they discuss Byron? Nobody is worried about the lack of talent on the roster, it isn't just about the team's record. Will someone PLEASE let the media/reporters know that you could put Magic, Michael, Larry, and Wilt in this horrid offense and they wouldn't win anything. There is no player movement, no ball movement, and they are so predicatable it's a big joke at this point.

As someone else said, his teams consistently rank near last in defense. That is a trend that started well before coaching the Lakers. The rotations are a bigger joke. He has played Clarkson for the entire 1st quarter and then brings him back in with 2-3 minutes left in the half, and that's just one questionable part of his rotation.


Disagree.

Missing shots...not coaches fault.
Not getting back on D...not coaches fault.
Holding the ball the entire clock and going ISO (JC)...not coaches fault.
Having a weak roster compared to other NBA teams...not coaches fault.

Brooklyn, 76ers, Suns, and Lakers are all in the same boat because of the makeup of their roster. Every team above 20 wins has one-to-three superstars who aren't a rookie or coming off major injury. Byron Scott is just the Laker fans' scapegoat for a horrid season, even though most logical people would have expected the losses. If we allow the fans to choose who starts and who coaches the team, we will continue to lose. If we start recycling coaches every other year, we will be sure to detract FAs and draft prospects.


Again... this is simply not true. This does not explain teams like Boston, Portland and Utah being in playoff contention with comparable talent levels to the Lakers. People don't think Quin Snyder, Terry Stotts and Brad Stevens have anything to do with their mediocre rosters competing every single night? Even Denver is on pace to win 30+ games with a bunch of 20 year olds. That's almost exclusively on Mike Malone and his encouragement to the youth to play through their mistakes.

If the "talent" excuse held true, the Kings would not have a losing record with a roster that includes Rondo, Cousins and Gay, Casspi. Cousins is unarguably one of the best players in the league, but George Karl's defensive schemes are not conducive to winning - he also doesn't play one of their best defensive guards in Seth Curry.

The coaching blunders and rotations ruin otherwise competitive games for the Lakers. For example, playing a front line that includes Bass-Nance or Bass-Randle is just asking for the opposition to drive inside and outrebound us. Tarik Black should not be playing less than 20 minutes a game. He's proven he can rack up rebounds in a short amount of time and provide some interior protection.

The whole no-talent excuse does not hold true in today's game. A mediocre team can win 30 games alone with spacing, ball movement and PnR play. The Lakers are talented enough to score over 100 points a game. Their defensive shortcomings can be mitigated by playing guys like Black and Brown.


Just stop it.

How many games have the Lakers had ample opportunity to win? How many chances have the players had to make big stops down the stretch, hit big shots, and close out games?

They've had so many opportunities and failed because of their effort and lack of basketball IQ. A coach's job is to put the players in positions to win and BS has at least done that. Even if you don't agree with his rotations, the players have had many opportunities to step up and win the game.

Portland - way better overall YOUNG roster and real superstars in CJ and Lillard
Boston - way better overall YOUNG roster led by Evan Turner and Isaiah Thomas (plus they are in the East)
Nuggets - way better overall YOUNG roster led by Will Barton, Kenneth Faried, and Emmanuel Mudiay
Jazz - way better overall YOUNG roster led by Gordon Hayward and Trey Burke

Lakers have lackadaisacal throw-away vets, a retiring Kobe, and a few bright spots in JC, Russell, Randle, and Nance.
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PostPosted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 9:58 am    Post subject:

nshid wrote:
Mindripper2000 wrote:
nshid wrote:
oldschool32 wrote:
lakersfreak wrote:
Why all the animosity toward Lakers Coach Byron Scott? Firing him won't change anything
by Dylan Hernandez - latimes.com

Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak might not be saying anything about Coach Byron Scott, but the fans are making their voices heard, whether it's on the radio airwaves or in the comments section under the online versions of Mike Bresnahan's stories. Their pitchforks are out. They want Scott fired.

The blood thirst is curious, considering how well this season has unfolded.

Seriously.

The team's 11-47 record? Who cares? Look at the roster. This team never had a chance.

If anything, the historically awful record should bolster Scott's stealth candidacy for Coach of the Year. Remember, the Lakers' first-round selection in the upcoming draft will belong to the Philadelphia 76ers unless it falls in the top three, meaning every loss is in fact a win and every win a loss. What looks like the second-worst record in the NBA is actually the second-best, as far as the Lakers are concerned. This draft pick, which could be turned into Ben Simmons of LSU or Brandon Ingram of Duke, is probably their single-most effective vehicle to climb back into contention.

More ridiculous is the criticism directed at Scott and the Lakers for allowing Kobe Bryant's farewell to dictate their season.

While Bryant's final months as an active player are being extensively chronicled, what's been understated is the strangely electric atmosphere at Staples Center. It's as if Bryant is now a religious figure. Or Donald Trump.

Bryant touches the ball, and the arena buzzes. He knocks down a routine shot, and the fans react as if he sank a buzzer-beater in a conference final.

Allowing Bryant to showcase what remains of his once-in-a-generation ability isn't a problem. It's basic customer service. He's about the only reason fans are paying as much as they are to watch some really dreadful basketball. Bryant should be permitted to shoot as much as he wants, whenever he wants.

Continued....


Why do people always do this when they discuss Byron? Nobody is worried about the lack of talent on the roster, it isn't just about the team's record. Will someone PLEASE let the media/reporters know that you could put Magic, Michael, Larry, and Wilt in this horrid offense and they wouldn't win anything. There is no player movement, no ball movement, and they are so predicatable it's a big joke at this point.

As someone else said, his teams consistently rank near last in defense. That is a trend that started well before coaching the Lakers. The rotations are a bigger joke. He has played Clarkson for the entire 1st quarter and then brings him back in with 2-3 minutes left in the half, and that's just one questionable part of his rotation.


Disagree.

Missing shots...not coaches fault.
Not getting back on D...not coaches fault.
Holding the ball the entire clock and going ISO (JC)...not coaches fault.
Having a weak roster compared to other NBA teams...not coaches fault.

Brooklyn, 76ers, Suns, and Lakers are all in the same boat because of the makeup of their roster. Every team above 20 wins has one-to-three superstars who aren't a rookie or coming off major injury. Byron Scott is just the Laker fans' scapegoat for a horrid season, even though most logical people would have expected the losses. If we allow the fans to choose who starts and who coaches the team, we will continue to lose. If we start recycling coaches every other year, we will be sure to detract FAs and draft prospects.


Again... this is simply not true. This does not explain teams like Boston, Portland and Utah being in playoff contention with comparable talent levels to the Lakers. People don't think Quin Snyder, Terry Stotts and Brad Stevens have anything to do with their mediocre rosters competing every single night? Even Denver is on pace to win 30+ games with a bunch of 20 year olds. That's almost exclusively on Mike Malone and his encouragement to the youth to play through their mistakes.

If the "talent" excuse held true, the Kings would not have a losing record with a roster that includes Rondo, Cousins and Gay, Casspi. Cousins is unarguably one of the best players in the league, but George Karl's defensive schemes are not conducive to winning - he also doesn't play one of their best defensive guards in Seth Curry.

The coaching blunders and rotations ruin otherwise competitive games for the Lakers. For example, playing a front line that includes Bass-Nance or Bass-Randle is just asking for the opposition to drive inside and outrebound us. Tarik Black should not be playing less than 20 minutes a game. He's proven he can rack up rebounds in a short amount of time and provide some interior protection.

The whole no-talent excuse does not hold true in today's game. A mediocre team can win 30 games alone with spacing, ball movement and PnR play. The Lakers are talented enough to score over 100 points a game. Their defensive shortcomings can be mitigated by playing guys like Black and Brown.


Just stop it.

How many games have the Lakers had ample opportunity to win? How many chances have the players had to make big stops down the stretch, hit big shots, and close out games?

They've had so many opportunities and failed because of their effort and lack of basketball IQ. A coach's job is to put the players in positions to win and BS has at least done that. Even if you don't agree with his rotations, the players have had many opportunities to step up and win the game.

Portland - way better overall YOUNG roster and real superstars in CJ and Lillard
Boston - way better overall YOUNG roster led by Evan Turner and Isaiah Thomas (plus they are in the East)
Nuggets - way better overall YOUNG roster led by Will Barton, Kenneth Faried, and Emmanuel Mudiay
Jazz - way better overall YOUNG roster led by Gordon Hayward and Trey Burke

Lakers have lackadaisacal throw-away vets, a retiring Kobe, and a few bright spots in JC, Russell, Randle, and Nance.


Wow...

Way to prop up every other mediocre roster to make the Lakers look bad and then blame our losses on our so-called "lack of talent". Randle is more talented than every player on the Nuggets not named Gallinari.

Do you seriously believe CJ Mccollum is a superstar? Is he really in the same tier as Lebron, Curry, George, Harden, Leonard, Wall, etc? Lillard is obviously one in the making and he's starting to make a case for himself.

And Boston is led By Evan Turner when he's not even starting? You do realize that he was unanimously considered a bust by the sports media, right? That Boston team is essentially composed of Isaiah Thomas and a bunch of role players. Here's a nice read on how Brad Stevens transformed the culture in Boston.

Those teams have zero business being in the playoffs the same way we have zero business not winning at least 25 games.
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PostPosted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 11:02 am    Post subject:

nshid wrote:
Mindripper2000 wrote:
nshid wrote:
oldschool32 wrote:
lakersfreak wrote:
Why all the animosity toward Lakers Coach Byron Scott? Firing him won't change anything
by Dylan Hernandez - latimes.com

Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak might not be saying anything about Coach Byron Scott, but the fans are making their voices heard, whether it's on the radio airwaves or in the comments section under the online versions of Mike Bresnahan's stories. Their pitchforks are out. They want Scott fired.

The blood thirst is curious, considering how well this season has unfolded.

Seriously.

The team's 11-47 record? Who cares? Look at the roster. This team never had a chance.

If anything, the historically awful record should bolster Scott's stealth candidacy for Coach of the Year. Remember, the Lakers' first-round selection in the upcoming draft will belong to the Philadelphia 76ers unless it falls in the top three, meaning every loss is in fact a win and every win a loss. What looks like the second-worst record in the NBA is actually the second-best, as far as the Lakers are concerned. This draft pick, which could be turned into Ben Simmons of LSU or Brandon Ingram of Duke, is probably their single-most effective vehicle to climb back into contention.

More ridiculous is the criticism directed at Scott and the Lakers for allowing Kobe Bryant's farewell to dictate their season.

While Bryant's final months as an active player are being extensively chronicled, what's been understated is the strangely electric atmosphere at Staples Center. It's as if Bryant is now a religious figure. Or Donald Trump.

Bryant touches the ball, and the arena buzzes. He knocks down a routine shot, and the fans react as if he sank a buzzer-beater in a conference final.

Allowing Bryant to showcase what remains of his once-in-a-generation ability isn't a problem. It's basic customer service. He's about the only reason fans are paying as much as they are to watch some really dreadful basketball. Bryant should be permitted to shoot as much as he wants, whenever he wants.

Continued....


Why do people always do this when they discuss Byron? Nobody is worried about the lack of talent on the roster, it isn't just about the team's record. Will someone PLEASE let the media/reporters know that you could put Magic, Michael, Larry, and Wilt in this horrid offense and they wouldn't win anything. There is no player movement, no ball movement, and they are so predicatable it's a big joke at this point.

As someone else said, his teams consistently rank near last in defense. That is a trend that started well before coaching the Lakers. The rotations are a bigger joke. He has played Clarkson for the entire 1st quarter and then brings him back in with 2-3 minutes left in the half, and that's just one questionable part of his rotation.


Disagree.

Missing shots...not coaches fault.
Not getting back on D...not coaches fault.
Holding the ball the entire clock and going ISO (JC)...not coaches fault.
Having a weak roster compared to other NBA teams...not coaches fault.

Brooklyn, 76ers, Suns, and Lakers are all in the same boat because of the makeup of their roster. Every team above 20 wins has one-to-three superstars who aren't a rookie or coming off major injury. Byron Scott is just the Laker fans' scapegoat for a horrid season, even though most logical people would have expected the losses. If we allow the fans to choose who starts and who coaches the team, we will continue to lose. If we start recycling coaches every other year, we will be sure to detract FAs and draft prospects.


Again... this is simply not true. This does not explain teams like Boston, Portland and Utah being in playoff contention with comparable talent levels to the Lakers. People don't think Quin Snyder, Terry Stotts and Brad Stevens have anything to do with their mediocre rosters competing every single night? Even Denver is on pace to win 30+ games with a bunch of 20 year olds. That's almost exclusively on Mike Malone and his encouragement to the youth to play through their mistakes.

If the "talent" excuse held true, the Kings would not have a losing record with a roster that includes Rondo, Cousins and Gay, Casspi. Cousins is unarguably one of the best players in the league, but George Karl's defensive schemes are not conducive to winning - he also doesn't play one of their best defensive guards in Seth Curry.

The coaching blunders and rotations ruin otherwise competitive games for the Lakers. For example, playing a front line that includes Bass-Nance or Bass-Randle is just asking for the opposition to drive inside and outrebound us. Tarik Black should not be playing less than 20 minutes a game. He's proven he can rack up rebounds in a short amount of time and provide some interior protection.

The whole no-talent excuse does not hold true in today's game. A mediocre team can win 30 games alone with spacing, ball movement and PnR play. The Lakers are talented enough to score over 100 points a game. Their defensive shortcomings can be mitigated by playing guys like Black and Brown.


Just stop it.

How many games have the Lakers had ample opportunity to win? How many chances have the players had to make big stops down the stretch, hit big shots, and close out games?

They've had so many opportunities and failed because of their effort and lack of basketball IQ. A coach's job is to put the players in positions to win and BS has at least done that. Even if you don't agree with his rotations, the players have had many opportunities to step up and win the game.

Portland - way better overall YOUNG roster and real superstars in CJ and Lillard
Boston - way better overall YOUNG roster led by Evan Turner and Isaiah Thomas (plus they are in the East)
Nuggets - way better overall YOUNG roster led by Will Barton, Kenneth Faried, and Emmanuel Mudiay
Jazz - way better overall YOUNG roster led by Gordon Hayward and Trey Burke

Lakers have lackadaisacal throw-away vets, a retiring Kobe, and a few bright spots in JC, Russell, Randle, and Nance.



Lol. So there's lack of EFFORT and guys just not STEPPING UP?
Hi Byron.

If only they would man up and fight. They might be a better team. *eyeroll

These guys are pros. They WANT to win. Look at guys like Jeremy Lin who are now flourishing now that they're out from underneath this garbage offensive "system". These guys commit the same mistakes over and over. They're either ALL stubborn or they're all just following the game plan.
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PostPosted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 5:24 pm    Post subject:

Apparently Byron's last 4 seasons was all the fault of his terrible players
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PostPosted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 5:32 pm    Post subject:

Jeanie Buss: Kobe Bryant Is Not A Distraction In Lakers Youth Development
by Ryan Ward - lakersnation.com

It has been another disappointing season for the Los Angeles Lakers. Los Angeles will possibly finish the 2015-16 season with the franchise’s worst record while missing the NBA playoffs for a third consecutive year.

The Lakers brass has come to terms with the fact this is a lost season and want to continue to develop their young core of players in the meantime. Although Julius Randle has progressed into a player that can get a double-double on a nightly basis, head coach Byron Scott has been highly criticized for his handling of rookie point guard D’Angelo Russell.

Kobe Bryant’s farewell season hindering the development of the team’s young players has also been a hot topic of discussion as of late. Team president Jeanie Buss doesn’t believe that to be true. Buss made some comparisons to some other aging stars in the league playing with young players trying to develop in an interview with Sam Amick of USA Today:

“I don’t buy into that, that Kobe is such a distraction,” Jeanie Buss said. “It’s about managing how things go. I see a player like Kevin Garnett who has done well in Minnesota with the younger players. A guy like Dwyane Wade playing with younger players (in Miami). I think you see it around the league everywhere.

“I don’t understand why that narrative has been created. It shouldn’t be that way – maybe Kobe’s popularity (affects it more)? But I don’t see what that has to do with training and practicing and things like that. Maybe I’m just naïve.”


It’s difficult to compare Bryant’s situation to any other player in the league today or in the past. The Lakers are in a unique position with their superstar on the verge of retirement. Kobe has played for almost two decades for the franchise and is highly regarded as one of the best players of all-time.

Continued....
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PostPosted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 5:33 pm    Post subject:

TDIKH: February 25, 2004
by nba.com

Kobe Bryant sparked the Lakers’ furious last-minute rally, but an unlikely teammate ended it.

Trailing by seven with 1:13 remaining in Denver, Bryant hit a 3-pointer, which was then followed by a steal and layup from Luke Walton.

The Lakers trailed, 111-109, with 3.2 seconds to go and tried to get the ball to Bryant, but it instead ended up in the hands of Kareem Rush, who buried the game-winner.

While Rush provided the heroics, Bryant served as the engine in Los Angeles’ fifth straight win by scoring 35 points to match the production from a rookie named Carmelo Anthony.A crowd of 19,812 — the largest ever for a Nuggets game — was on hand to see its home team take a 12-point halftime lead. But Bryant managed to keep his team within striking distance, as he shot 14-of-26 while pitching in 10 assists and seven rebounds.

Denver shot 55.8 percent from the field, but simply gave away too many possessions with 20 turnovers.

Continued....
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PostPosted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 5:34 pm    Post subject:

Surprisingly, Kobe Bryant is enjoying saying goodbye
by Mike Bresnahan - latimes.com

After further review, Kobe Bryant is having a great time on his goodbye tour.

He swore in September he didn't want one, wouldn't need the gifts and adulation from adoring road crowds. He even scoffed at the lengthy farewell lap his friend and business partner, Derek Jeter, completed for the New York Yankees.

"We're completely different people; I couldn't do that," he said before the Lakers took off for training camp in Honolulu.

See the most-read stories in Sports this hour>>

That was seemingly ages ago, before Bryant hit the side of the backboard in his first shot of exhibition play. The losses collected in a flurry after that.

Bryant has been charming and insightful on the road, patiently and humorously answering reporters' questions, often after awful Lakers losses.

"It's fun. I've been enjoying it," Bryant said before his final road game against the Memphis Grizzlies. "It's been great to kind of go from city to city and say thank you to all the fans and be able to feel that in return."

Bryant also said he announced his retirement in late November because he wanted the Lakers to get a head start on rebuilding by knowing his $25-million salary would be coming off the books in late June.

"In L.A., everything leaks anyway, so why not just come out and say it?" he said.

He continued to give compliments when probed, and it seemed so weird because he was supposed to hate all these opponents. And the media too. But Wednesday was Tony Allen's turn to feel the love.

Continued....
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PostPosted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 5:35 pm    Post subject:

Byron Scott downplays NBA lottery implications
by Mark Medina - dailynews.com

The question initially disturbed Lakers coach Byron Scott. So much that he professed he did not want to answer it.

With the Lakers (11-47) entering Wednesday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies (32-23) at Fedex Forum with the NBA’s second-worst record, how much has Scott thought about helping the Lakers’ odd to retain their top-3 protected pick?

After some prodding, Scott sounded eager to answer.

“You can’t try to lose basketball games,” Scott said. “That’s a bad way to present to our team that we’re trying to lose so we can protect the top three pick. That’s a bad omen to me. We didn’t try to do that last year.”

Then, the Lakers went 21-61 and finished with the NBA’s fourth-worst record and would have owed their pick to Philadelphia if it landed in the top five. But the Lakers then moved up two slots in the lottery to land the No. 2 pick, which was used to select point guard D’Angelo Russell. At the time, Scott argued the Lakers became fortunate partly because of the karma stemmed from his players still competing throughout the entire season.

Continued....
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PostPosted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 5:53 pm    Post subject:

lakersfreak wrote:
Jeanie Buss: Kobe Bryant Is Not A Distraction In Lakers Youth Development
by Ryan Ward - lakersnation.com

It has been another disappointing season for the Los Angeles Lakers. Los Angeles will possibly finish the 2015-16 season with the franchise’s worst record while missing the NBA playoffs for a third consecutive year.

The Lakers brass has come to terms with the fact this is a lost season and want to continue to develop their young core of players in the meantime. Although Julius Randle has progressed into a player that can get a double-double on a nightly basis, head coach Byron Scott has been highly criticized for his handling of rookie point guard D’Angelo Russell.

Kobe Bryant’s farewell season hindering the development of the team’s young players has also been a hot topic of discussion as of late. Team president Jeanie Buss doesn’t believe that to be true. Buss made some comparisons to some other aging stars in the league playing with young players trying to develop in an interview with Sam Amick of USA Today:

“I don’t buy into that, that Kobe is such a distraction,” Jeanie Buss said. “It’s about managing how things go. I see a player like Kevin Garnett who has done well in Minnesota with the younger players. A guy like Dwyane Wade playing with younger players (in Miami). I think you see it around the league everywhere.

“I don’t understand why that narrative has been created. It shouldn’t be that way – maybe Kobe’s popularity (affects it more)? But I don’t see what that has to do with training and practicing and things like that. Maybe I’m just naïve.”


It’s difficult to compare Bryant’s situation to any other player in the league today or in the past. The Lakers are in a unique position with their superstar on the verge of retirement. Kobe has played for almost two decades for the franchise and is highly regarded as one of the best players of all-time.

Continued....


Oh god shut the hell up Jeanie no one cares what you have to say because you are just as dumb as your brother.
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PostPosted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 7:32 pm    Post subject:

lakersfreak wrote:
Jeanie Buss: Kobe Bryant Is Not A Distraction In Lakers Youth Development


“I don’t understand why that narrative has been created. It shouldn’t be that way – maybe Kobe’s popularity (affects it more)? But I don’t see what that has to do with training and practicing and things like that. Maybe I’m just naïve.”[/i][/b]



Continued....


The more this woman speaks, the more I can't stand her. These kids were born on 3rd base and haven't done anything but take steps backwards since their Daddy passed. Sad what this team has become. We have a mullet sporting, baseball cap wearing dude and this crackly-voiced granny running the show. Talking about "Dad would have wanted it this way". G.t.f.o
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