After the resignation of Mike D’Antoni, the Los Angeles Lakers eventually hired their former player, Byron Scott as their new head coach. Through 27 games in the 2014-15 NBA season, the Lakers are 12-25 and headed to the lottery for the second consecutive season.
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Over the course of the season, Scott has been heavily criticized for his decision making, especially with managing Kobe Bryant’s minutes. With the Miami Heat coming to Los Angeles on Tuesday, former Lakers head coach and current Heat executive, Pat Riley talked about his former player with Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News:
“Byron’s a very good coach,” said Riley, whose nine NBA championships spanning his roles as a player, coach and executive include four titles as head coach of the Lakers. “They just don’t have the horses right now other than Kobe (Bryant) and a lot of young players in a Western Conference that is really, really tough.”
Heading into the season, the Lakers were aiming for the playoffs, but injuries have continued to disseminate the team for the third consecutive season. With Steve Nash and Julius Randle out for the season and numerous players in and out of the lineup, Scott is currently figuring out a minutes plan for Kobe Bryant, who has had difficulties recovering following games.
With the Lakers near the bottom of the standings, the team will have approximately $30 million in cap space to pursue big-name free agents this upcoming summer once again and potentially a top-five pick in this year’s NBA Draft which features Jahlil Okafor.
[divide]Byron Scott Impersonates Nick ‘Swaggy P’ Young
