Lakers Need A Coach & Players

Coach - Mike Brown

As of November 9, 2012, the Lakers decided to part ways with former head coach Mike Brown.  Basically, they fired him for poor on the job performance.  Brown's employee evaluation came much sooner than the normal and no one seriously expected.  There were many complaints from fans, but hey...it was only four games.  It is very hard for new members of a new team to gel instantly without playing together in the offseason.  Maybe they can or maybe they can't do it, but we will soon see..  

Was this a great move by the Laker's organization? 

Would you as an owner fire a guy 4 games into an 82 games season?

Was there a true backup plan for this or does this firing make sense at all?

Brown implemented Princeton University’s offense with the newly hired assistant coach Eddie Jordan, formerly of the Wizards.  The offense looked slow and the Lakers spent so much time studying the offense they forgot to play defense. 

TNT - Charles Barkley

Many critics, including TNT’s NBA crew had harsh words for the Mike Brown and the slow paced offense.  According to Pro Basketball Talk at NBC Sports, Charles Barkley was quoted as saying, “…he only wants his Accountants from Princeton, not his offense.”

Laker Buzz and Rumors on Friday, November 9, 2012

• The LA Times confirmed the rumors of coaches Jerry Sloan in addition to Mike D’Antoni to replace Mike Brow as head coach of the Lakers.

• ESPN has reported the Lakers are interested in Phil Jackson, yet no contact has been made.

In the end, I just don’t think Mike Brown was the man to follow behind Phil Jackson.  He is a good coach, but I believe he should have had someone who could still run the triangle offense or some version of the offense.  Could it be Brian Shaw? Don’t know.  What about another coach with a different offense?  I am saying it may be too late in the season to teach a brand new offense.  Whoever the Lakers go with they will need to run a basic offense.  With no training camp to teach the new coaching style to the players, things could get rougher in Laker land.

#24 - Kobe Bryant

Not only do the Lakers need a coach (Phil Jackson), they also need a few bench players to give them a boost.  For the last two to three years the Lakers have been battling bench issues that have not been fixed.

Are the Lakers actually good at scouting or great at making trades?  To my knowledge, the Lakers have traded for all of their talent in the last 17 years.  When Kobe Bryant was drafted 13th overall in 1996, he was actually drafted by the Charlotte Hornets and then the Lakers traded Vlade Divac to Charlotte for Bryant.  Since then, the talent has either come by trade of free agency.  No scouting.

Coach - Phil Jackson

Currently, Steve Nash has a lower leg injury and may be out for several weeks.  The Lakers do not have a capable back up point guard that can produce night in and night out.  I think back up point guard Steve Blake is a good player, but not for the Lakers.  Yes, he has good defense but a lot guys can do what Blake does and more athletically.  The Lakers have been missing pure athletes for a long time.

The Lakers need to find three guys who can come off of the bench and provide a spark that the starters cannot provide. The starters are veterans with age or injury against them.  There needs to be reserve players who can run the floor, jump with the best of them and shoot a consistent 3 point shot.  If the Lakers can find an athletic bench, it may be the answers to their prayers.  But they have to find a coach first!