The Official Byron Scott Coach Thread 2014-2015

If you know my style then you know I'm not going to be misrepresented. You're still saying I'm a Byron supporter and that's not necessarily true. Just because I don't want to join you and the tidal wave of Byron hate without giving the man a modicum of respect, doesn't mean I am in full support of everything he does.

Does it really kill you that much to give the man some credit? Or are you just that ingrained in your own opinions that you can't consider another person's point? And again the D'Antoni thing is just not right. There's more to coaching then drawing up plays and in almost every other aspect of the job D'Antoni is an unmitigated disaster.

 

One person's speculation is greater than the evidence on the court? Is that really your argument? Where is the evidence of resentment? Where is the evidence of any negativity from the players towards Byron? The only player who has had public disagreements with Byron is Lin and guess who gets to start the last 10 games of the year and who has had a strong control of the offense since the All-Star break?

Again an argument on Xs and Os. I have admitted repeatedly that Byron is not strong in this department.

No one is arguing against this point.

 

There sure is. Feel free to use it.

 

Or succeed right?

If he's only been here that long, then why are you so quick to judge him negatively without any credit to the positives? I just don't get it man. You're right! He can't draw up a play when the time calls for it. His offensive sets are pretty unimpressive so far. No one is arguing against that.

But he's got the team working hard and trying to win games despite having only 17 wins. We took maybe the best team in the NBA and were within a Wes Johnson turnover away from getting a chance to go to Overtime. That's a good thing because a) we lost so the tank thrives on and b) we're still trying even in the worst season in Laker history. That's the culture we want when things finally turn around.

 

What a weird Tuesday.

I didn't expect to wake up defending Byron Scott. I think his contract is built perfectly to fit their vision of how they're going to return by the way. Four year deal with an option on the fourth year... That's

2014-2015- tanked hard for the pick
2015-2016- development of the pick and Randle and hopefully pick-up of a good FA but most importantly competitive
2016-2017- the most important summer. take a swing at Durant and any other high profile FA.
2017-2018- if the team is ready to compete (aka we got Durant), then let Scott go and get a new coach. If they're not ready, take his option and keep developing.

I have to think that's what is in their mind. If we somehow dark horse our way to Durant, they let Byron go the next season and bring in a guy like Ollie who Durant really likes. I know Ollie just got a contract too, but I'd have to think he'd take a shot at the NBA with Durant and the Lakers. Pie in the sky? Yes. But I think that's the idea the FO has too if all their dreams come true.

 

I think that's what is going to happen. Let Scott instill some discipline into the new team, then let him go. Like him or not, he's not going to lead us deep into the playoff, let alone win the championship. Except if he had some brilliant assistants. But if those assistants are so brilliant -- they will coach somewhere else. It's a Catch-22. I think we'll keep him for two more years, then we just won't pick up his option. Hopefully, he won't alienate too many players in the process. That's my fear, really.

 

Great response.

As I recall Boozer and Scott have had their ups and downs, but I wouldn't call their relationship confrontational at all. They're both professionals and straight shooters, but Boozer has always deferred to Byron as far as coaching decisions are concerned. I remember him saying earlier in the year he wasn't happy with something, but it was corrected. More recently when the proposition of not playing came up, Boozer said he understood and while he wouldn't be happy about it, he'd accept it.

I agree the running will get old, but by that time we'll be ready. The way I see it, the running gets old when the team is ready to take the next step. If Byron was a better Xs and Os coach, the running wouldn't be a problem because frankly they'd have more to do at practice. Byron is an 80s guy with an 80s coaching mentality which is fairly simplistic. Coaching has evolved and I have serious doubts that he knows the complexities of modern coaching. By THAT time though, we should have a better roster that is disciplined and conditioned and ready for a better Xs and Os coach to pick-up and run with. At that point Byron will have served his purpose.

That's really all I've been trying to say man. His purpose isn't to be a great coach, it's to build a culture of hard-work, discipline, and always trying to win. We'd gotten WAY away from that under D'Antoni. Guys weren't even running hard at the end of last season. This team doesn't do that and for THAT I'll give Byron credit. When it comes time for us to win again he better pick up someone who actually knows how to draw a play otherwise he's out the door and that's a good thing.

 

Well if you think about it, you're describing the Lakers from the 80s. In the half-court the Lakers ran the ball through Kareem in the post. Otherwise they defended hard and got out on the break with Magic. Maybe he doesn't really know any other way to play?

I don't necessarily have a problem with that as long as we have the post player to make it work and the capable defenders on the perimeter. I would prefer a coach who is more adaptable, but that's never been Byron's strong suit.

 

Gotta start including Clarkson in this. Let's be honest. Redo the draft today, Clarkson goes top 7-8. I guess Scott has gotten that right. Can't argue with Clarkson's development under Scott.

Clarkson really is the X factor. When this season began, I had little to no hope of turning this ship around for a long, long time. Kobe eating up almost half the cap, no talent whatsoever other than maybe Randle. But as it turns out, we got two top ten picks in last year's draft as it relates to talent, and Kobe played like utter trash and got injured along with some other key injuries so we weren't competitive whatsoever, giving us a shot at the pick I thought was for sure going to Phoenix.

When the season began we had Randle and nothing else going for us going into the 2015-2016 season. Now we have Randle and Clarkson and possibly a top 5 pick from this year's very good draft.

 

Yeah you're right I keep forgetting about Clarkson. We certainly have a chance to turn things around quickly if we get that pick. Not necessarily because the pick will be great, but because if we end up with three of the top 20 players from the last two drafts we've got gold on cost-controlled contracts! Suddenly we've got a lot of assets!