It’s been a tough week for the Los Angeles Lakers. Following their biggest win of the season against the Miami Heat last Sunday, the team followed it up with two straight disastrous losses to the Detroit Pistons and the Washington Wizards.
The team followed it up with a come-from-behind victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, albeit without star forward Kevin Love.
Still, the conversation on Saturday wasn’t about the team’s win on Friday as much as it was about a team meeting held Thursday. The meeting was officially listed as a film session, but according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN Los Angeles, coach Mike Brown used the time to speak with his players.
Players were invited to speak after Lakers assistant coaches John Kuester and Chuck Person left strong impressions. Part of the assistant coaches’ message was urging the players to curtail any “external chatter,” according to a source.
Most of you will remember the players-only meeting held by the team late last month, but this is a somewhat different scenario. With the team shoulder-deep in trade rumors lately, it seems as if the team coaching staff is getting tired of hearing their players speak to the media about said rumors.
McMenamin went on to report that Brown specifically asked for input from Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Derek Fisher. All three players admitted that the focus of the meeting was positivity, and that the team’s goal was to stay united moving forward.
With the trade deadline rapidly approaching and the team facing a monumental challenge Sunday afternoon against Boston, team unity is going to be an important asset moving forward.