Ceasefire on Byron (for the time being)

fiendishoc

So, watching George Karl and Andre Miller help the Kings beat the Celtics the other day, I was thinking about why Mitch would choose Byron Scott as our coach, beyond the usual "former Laker" reasons.

While Karl may be just what the Kings need at the moment, the circumstance behind our hiring decision is a bit more like when the Rockets let Rick Adelman go and went with McHale- who on the face of it doesn't exactly seem the model of cutting edge coaching strategy.

If your end goal is to win a championship and you're trying to reload your entire roster, having a Hall of Fame caliber X's and O's coach working to maximize your existing talent season after season is pretty counterproductive.

It's more important to have a coach whose on the same page with the long term franchise goals, even if it means losing in horrible fashion for a season or so. For the Rockets, Adelman wasn't fine with trading away all the players who knew his offense for 1st round draft picks, and that was the major reason they parted ways. In hindsight, it was probably the right move.

I've come to terms with the thought that Byron will likely be our coach for the next few years, even when we're trying to win. Sure, alternatively a young up and coming coach could also semi-tank while putting in place a system for the future, but his cooperation in all personnel matters would be anything but assured. Now I have no idea if this really is the thinking that went behind his hiring, but it certainly is working out that way.

The difference between us and the Rockets is that we don't have anyone in the front office pushing the coach to modernize his schemes. But I'll reserve judgement until next year, as we'll see whether the offensive and defensive strategy will be turned over to fresh faces on the bench.

ringfinger · Retired Number Joined: 08 Oct 2013 Posts: 29418

This doesn't change the fact that Byron Scott sucks as a coach though.

oldschool32 · Franchise Player Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Posts: 20032

I'm fine with Byron. As long as we keep on this correct path. Young guys develop, and we bring in top prospects.
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Don Draper · Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2015 9:04 am Post subject:

Byron is merely the FO's puppet. He will perform as well as they direct him to. There are worse things to have in a tank year.

LandsbergerRules · Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2015 9:13 am Post subject:

As long as The Head of the Snake gets even a minute of playing time, I'll always have a problem with Byron.
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kikanga · Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2015 9:18 am Post subject:

LakerLand247 · Star Player Joined: 26 Sep 2009 Posts: 4809

If Byron secures us a top 5 pick then he's done his job well for the future of the Laker franchise and its fans.

ADA32 · Starting Rotation Joined: 26 Jul 2014 Posts: 302

l4kerz · Star Player Joined: 10 Jan 2010 Posts: 1572

MJST · Retired Number Joined: 06 Jul 2014 Posts: 26386

Karl and Miller didn't help much when the Kings faced the Clippers.

LakerLogic · Franchise Player Joined: 27 Mar 2005 Posts: 17886

He is the coach we need, not the one we deserve.

Honeybadger81 · Star Player Joined: 25 Oct 2014 Posts: 1253

McHale did a great job under those circumstances though... He still had pressure to win and he got the job done..

2011-2012, the rockets almost made the playoff in the west with a roster featuring Schola, Kmart, Lowry, Dragic, Budinger, Parsons (rookie)... if not because of the lapse of last two weeks, and Lowry's injury.
2012-2013, almost all unproven rookies and second/third year players, added a Harden(not superstar yet), Jeremy Lin, Asik (statistically good, but unproven), Parsons (second year, unproven), PPat, Delfino, MMorris etc... and Morey consistently traded away and in players... with all these, the Rockets made the playoff, surprised a lot of people (even with the harden in the team)

you can't say the same about Byron, who has no pressure to win... if the FO is really into tanking, then they got their man... Byron is the master of tanking.

LakerLand247 · Star Player Joined: 26 Sep 2009 Posts: 4809

ringfinger · Retired Number Joined: 08 Oct 2013 Posts: 29418

It's not Byron's fault we have crappy players.

But what I do blame him for is overplaying Kobe (I called for 30-32 MPG in the offseason), and not getting more out of Jeremy Lin. And then just odd DNP decisions such as Boozer in the loss against Brooklyn. Scott just seems to do a lot of head scratching type things.

City_Dawg · Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2015 11:48 am Post subject:

Wait, you want us to stop complaining about something that has to do with the Lakers?

Is such a thing possible?
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venturalakersfan · Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2015 11:52 am Post subject:

Scott is playing the Del Harris role, though I think Del was a much better overall coach.
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Megaton · Retired Number Joined: 18 Feb 2015 Posts: 25648

Scott is doing his job well. Great tank general.

Vin · Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2015 12:10 pm Post subject:

Even if we had the pieces we would probably not win with him as a coach. He's doing good as a tank commander so far though.

Reflexx · Franchise Player Joined: 25 Jun 2005 Posts: 11163

Honeybadger81 · Star Player Joined: 25 Oct 2014 Posts: 1253

byron is playing the changing lineup tricks to divert his tanking intention...lol
but everyone knows his real intention is tanking... the media just does not have balls to question him...

legend825 · Star Player Joined: 12 Jun 2012 Posts: 2496

Byron Scott is STILL a horrible coach and Karl would've been a much better choice

kikanga · Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2015 1:49 pm Post subject:

ringfinger · Retired Number Joined: 08 Oct 2013 Posts: 29418

Omar Little · Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2015 4:06 pm Post subject:

cheesysapien · Starting Rotation Joined: 15 Oct 2014 Posts: 357