Ex-Coach Luke Walton Discussion

Walton doesn't scheme very well. And he doesn't adjust well either. His main areas of improvement over Scott are: he's not a moron, he can connect with players and media, he presents a professional front, and he has a good vision for the team. We need a nuts and bolts person to bring those values into reality.

 

@trodgers, by scheme, do you mean establishing a basic team identity and assigning roles within a team scheme, or do you mean individual game planning? It seems to me that Luke is solid on the former, but not so much the latter. But I'm curious on your perspective.

Completely agree either way on the need for an excellent nuts and bold guy. Phil leaned HEAVILY on Tex Winter. Phil never would have gotten 11 rings without Tex IMO.

 

By scheme I lead the latter. I think the distinction is legitimate. And he's pretty good at the former.

 

The Tex point is a perfect example. It doesn't have to be an offensive guy, but we are clearly missing. I thought Messina could be that guy. It was a missed opportunity.

 

I agree. That point is probably not this first season with an average age in our starting lineup of 15.7 years old.

 

Hey. It's like 21.

 

I want them to improve as much possible too, but that's a pretty arbitrary thing to throw out there honestly. It's okay if they're really bad, but not really, really bad?

 

Sorry but when Nwaba starts and Russell is benched, something is wrong with this franchise from top to bottom. Its infuriating. Even if you have given up on him, don't kill his value.

If its done solely for tanking, its even more embarassing because it doesn't have to be a 30 point loss. A 5 point loss is ok too.

WTF was Luke thinking? Developing a fringe NBA talent that is gone in a month? And benching a "potential" cornerstone player for this franchise that is mentally rather fragile and needs a mentor rather than punishments.

 

^I agree generally about Russell. I have always said he looks like agood passing SG than a great scoring PG.

And he deserves every blame for his work ethic and excessive talking.

But honestly, the Lakers have been developing players half-assed for several seasons now. You look at Minny and all their young players play 37 mpg, same with the Suns, Bucks or other developing teams.

The Lakers constantly try to "win" and "develop" at the same time and fail miserably, almost comically, at both missions. If you commit yourself to developing young players, LIVE with the results, period. You WILL have ups and downs and you shut the f up and stick to the plan. Thats the ONLY way this works.

If you don't believe they will get there, then don't waste time with your pseudo-development while getting blown out night in and night out. Ship their a** out.

The Lakers have become a f*** joke. Honestly, if the players are failing, maybe they aren't getting the right environment and tutelage. In Germany they say "The fish stinks from the head".