Head coach Byron Scott was not in a good mood after last night’s preseason loss to the Utah Jazz, the third consecutive double-digit loss for the team. While he made note of a number of things he is looking for from the team, he also had some choice words for rookie Julius Randle.
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Scott said that he believes Randle could have played harder last night, and this isn’t the first time Scott has been harsh when talking about the rookie. According to Lakers Nation reporter Serena Winters, however, Randle has no issues with the tough love:
Julius Randle on Byron Scott being hard on him: "He should. Those guys are proven, I shouldn't get the same treatment as those guys."
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) October 17, 2014
The mindset of Randle is a positive thing to hear as many rookies struggle early in their playing careers, and having a coach publicly saying bad things about you can really make some players question whether they belong. Randle, however, seems to understand that this is necessary and is using the comments as motivation.
Many of Scott’s criticisms of Randle has been conditioning related, which is to be expected from someone who has no clue how hard he has to go to make it in the NBA. Scott has also talked about Randle being lost, something many rookies experience.
Even though Randle is struggling right now, it is still early and if he is able to take this tough love from Scott and turn it around, he will be much better in the long run because of it.
[divide]Here’s What Byron Scott Had To Say About Julius Randle After Their Loss To The Utah Jazz
