The Lakers would never admit it publicly, but their 113-111 overtime victory Monday over the Sixers probably cost them something on lottery night.
With another win, the Lakers move another game closer to potentially losing their Top 5 pick. Lakers are now only just 2 wins ahead of Orlando for the 4th spot in the lottery.
The Sixers will get the Lakers' first-round pick in the draft if Los Angeles finishes outside of the Top 5 in the lottery. The chances are slim, although Monday's result makes it slightly more likely.
The Lakers' lottery-laden fans might say otherwise. But Coach Byron Scott would gladly debate them.
"I don't care about the lottery, I don't care about that stuff," Scott said after the win. "It's all about trying to get better as a team and trying to keep winning games."
"Whatever happens, happens. I can't control that."
Really though, what would happen if he said "yeah, we're going to lose as much as possible to get a high spot in the lottery"? What does that accomplish?
Trying to get better as a team with guys a lot of guys who won't be here next year? Great plan Byron.
Exactly! But maybe, just maybe Byron's "dedication" to not tanking is just lip service, and deep down he's hoping/praying the Lakers get a high lottery pick in spite of them winning games they should be losing.
the coach and the players are responsible for winning games as best they can. the front office and management is responsible for balancing the desire to win games today with the desire to contend for championships in the future.
you can never ask a coach or players to deliberately lose games, that's simply a loser's attitude. if you're competing, compete. the front office can do things like hold players out or dictate rotation changes but once you're on the court, you try to win.
Trying to get better as a team with guys a lot of guys who won't be here next year? Great plan Byron.
Exactly! But maybe, just maybe Byron's "dedication" to not tanking is just lip service, and deep down he's hoping/praying the Lakers get a high lottery pick in spite of them winning games they should be losing.
Yet I get this feeling that Byron who loves to refer to himself as "Old School" actually MEANS everything he just said.
He activated both Hill and Boozer - before the aspitory thing, after he came back. _________________
With getting better as the primary focus, these games are treated the same way as preseason games. You put players in situations that are difficult to simulate in practice and you see how they respond. You see if they do the correct thing.
You try to coach them to win.
With that said, it's understandable that winning is not a priority over player development, just like in the preseason. So with players that you already have a feel for, you may not play them as much.
Joined: 09 Apr 2012 Posts: 1938 Location: Southern California
Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2015 9:50 am Post subject:
Retread, stubborn, stale, awful coach who only got hired because he was part of the Showtime Lakers, as if that has anything to do with coaching. _________________ 17 time World Champions
Retread, stubborn, stale, awful coach who only got hired because he was part of the Showtime Lakers, as if that has anything to do with coaching.
I'm interested in the next coach that the Lakers will pick. Hoping that they won't be stingy with the $. Go get a real coach when we have real talent. I guess Scott is fine as the interim until Kobe retires. _________________ From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals
For the Laker franchise, it's not about trying to win 25 instead of 20 games. It's about building a team that eventually can win a championship. Or at least it used to be.
Byron is a fool, but he's done about as much as anyone to contribute to our chances of keeping the pick. Heading into the season it was looking almost impossible we'd get it.
I'm happy with Byron Scott. He's building a winning culture and that takes time. It all started in training camp with kobe, Nash, and boozer working hard and not complaining about how difficult the camp was. Clarkson and randle saw that. They also saw how Ronnie price, a career third string guard won the starting job because of his work ethic.
Clarkson and randle will come into camp with the right mentality and they will be rewarded. You cut the team cancers and bad influences this summer like swaggy P or anyone else who challenged the coaches authority this season. You bring in hard workers and professionals to set a good example and continue to grow.
It takes time to build a winning culture. Have patience
Joined: 15 Sep 2012 Posts: 29281 Location: La La Land
Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2015 10:44 am Post subject:
I don't blame Byron for tanking (and lying about it) as he's been instructed to.
In fact I give him credit for towing the company line at the detriment of his own coaching record and credibiility. Something MDA wouldn't do last season. _________________ "Every hurt is a lesson, and every lesson makes you better”
...says a former 4th overall pick that replaced Norm Nixon and beat out Geeter for the starting spot in his 2nd year.
Disgusting.
Riles didn't care about replacing Jamaal and Nixon with those two top 5 picks, nope. We didn't need em. Worthy and Scott? Pfft. Coulda repeated without em. Geeter and maybe Billy Thompson at 3.
I don't blame Byron for tanking (and lying about it) as he's been instructed to.
In fact I give him credit for towing the company line at the detriment of his own coaching record and credibiility. Something MDA wouldn't do last season.
Well, 1-9 start certainly didn't help when he was unquestionably trying to win. _________________ From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals
All times are GMT - 8 Hours Goto page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5Next
Page 1 of 5
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
