Which, counting preseason loses, brings him to a remarkable 1-14.
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Earlier Friday, sources had told ESPN.com's Marc Stein that the team was using its upcoming six-game homestand to evaluate Brown, but after numerous discussions over the past 48 hours, Lakers management came to a unanimous decision that the team clearly wasn't heading in the right direction and it was best to fire him now.
The decision is in keeping with the Lakers "win now" mentality after acquiring Steve Nash and Dwight Howard in blockbuster trades this summer. Relieving Brown of his duties now also comes at a substantial cost as he was in just the second year of a four-year, $18 million deal. The final year of that contract was only partially guaranteed.
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The Lakers are off to the worst start in the Western Conference despite carrying the league's largest payroll at just over $100 million, which would trigger an estimated luxury-tax bill at season's end of nearly $30 million.
Good riddance to him and the Princeton offense, I say.
Wasn't it a little early for Lakers panic attack? It's five games into the season and Lakers front office hits the panic button? What a joke!
I don't know much about the "Princeton offense" or why they wanted to adopt it in the first place when Steve F-ing Nash is your point guard and you can run the offense through him like they did in Phoenix. Granted, Nash is injured and didn't look good in the two games he played this season, but everyone was saying they should just run the offense through Nash anyways.
Whatever. I do not like the Lakers or Kobe Bryant all that much, and I'm not much of a fan of Dwight Howard either because of how he treated Orlando (one minute he wants to stay there, the next he's demanding a trade or asking the GM to fire the coach). Watching the Lakers struggle is fun. I hope OKC or San Antonio make it to the finals from the West this year (preferably the Spurs, mad respect for Duncan and Popovich).
Well, only the 90-91 Bulls have ever recovered from a start like this and won the championship. I think it is premature to panic too, but the numbers don't lie.
As for the Princeton offense, Wikipedia can explain it better:
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The Princeton offense is an offensive basketball strategy which emphasizes constant motion, passing, back-door cuts, picks on and off the ball, and disciplined teamwork.
They hoped it would take pressure off of Kobe while he recovers from a foot injury. But, it doesn't seem to play into the strengths of anyone else either. Plus, defense, which is Brown's strength, isn't fairing much better.
However, I think the real problem is that the bench simply doesn't have the depth to compensate for their injury-plagued starting lineup. Lakers broke the bank to create a dream team of a starting lineup at the cost of not really having anyone to fill in the gaps and it is showing.
So looking at the list of potential candidates for a new head coach:
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former Lakers and Bulls coach Phil Jackson, former Knicks and Suns coach Mike D'Antoni, longtime Jazz coach Jerry Sloan, former Blazers coach Nate McMillan and ex-Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy.
Who would be the best for the Lakers? Truth be told of those I've only know of Phil Jackson, but I thought he was done with basketball?
Who would be the best for the Lakers? Truth be told of those I've only know of Phil Jackson, but I thought he was done with basketball?
Well, everyone is screaming for Phil Jackson's return, but I don't think it likely. Most figure it will be D'Antoni or Sloan.
I like Mike D'Antoni (Suns/Knicks) on paper for the team with his emphasis on pick-and-roll, fast-paced driving offense and previous relationship with Nash. But, you have to realize that while the Lakers have an all-star starting lineup, it is an old starting lineup, with most of them in the their mid-to-late 30s. I just don't know if driving the ball in for the aging team against young blood is the most effective way to use a dearth of fantastic 3-point shooters.
Jerry Sloan (Stockton-Malone Utah Jazz fame) is my pick, his system has the pick-and-roll of D'Antoni, in fact, Sloan is a master of it, that will maximize a Nash-Howard or even Gasol combo but also has a more tactical half-court offense that plays to the veteran team's skills. Plus, he has the pedigree to instantly command respect from all-stars and a no nonsense attitude that might be refreshing for some of those divas (Howard, Bryant, Metta) to see.
His time with the Jazz also shows he knows how to take a small-market bench, which the payroll spent on starters is effectively making it, into championship contenders and that will be important if the starters don't recover.
However, I think the real problem is that the bench simply doesn't have the depth to compensate for their injury-plagued starting lineup. Lakers broke the bank to create a dream team of a starting lineup at the cost of not really having anyone to fill in the gaps and it is showing.
No kidding. The contracts of Kobe, Dwight and Gasol together put them over the salary cap, but since this is the NBA, the salary cap actually doesn't matter for big-market teams. It's the luxury tax that is killer, and might be a big problem for the Lakers in the near future. You've hit the nail on the head, the Lakers put all their money in the starting five and are left with next to nothing in terms of bench depth. Doesn't help that Dwight Howard can't hit a free throw to save his life, I saw his air ball against the Jazz earlier this week, hilarious. It's a pretty old starting five as well, Nash, Kobe, MWP and Gasol are all on the decline of their respective careers (though still good).
As for replacements for Brown, a lot of people are talking about Phil Jackson, but didn't he leave the Lakers on less-than-great terms? I don't see him coming back, but he was a great coach.
D'Antoni and Sloan are the likeliest candidates to replace Brown. D'Antoni recently had knee surgery and is apparently not that mobile, but I think in terms of team make-up, D'Antoni could do a pretty good job with the Lakers (reuniting with Nash certainly wouldn't hurt). Sloan was a fantastic coach, I think he's easily the best candidate for the job, but part of me doesn't want him to get the job. I guess he'd be doing what Malone did by going over to the rival Lakers near the end of his career to try and win a title (which is what Nash is sorta doing as well). I dunno, I think Sloan is the best guy for the job.
I think it would be hilarious if the Lakers hired Stan Van Gundy, just months after Dwight got him fired in Orlando (before he himself skipped town).
It's looking like it might be Phil Jackson, he apparently wants the job.
I think most people believed Phil would get the job if he wanted it, but didn't think he was actually going to come out of retirement. Now that he seemingly does want to un-retire and wants the job, he'll likely get it.
Yeah, it is starting to seem like Phil Jackson is coming back. I don't think it is the right decision, but what do I know? I imagine they will do well and it will justify his return, but bringing Jackson in for a year or whatever isn't fixing the problem. The starting lineup is extremely talented, but old and the bench has no depth. Granted, Sloan is older than Jackson, but I think Sloan would build a bench that has longer legs.
Jackson has been able to rely on all-stars his entire career, Sloan knew how to make due with a handful of all-stars and a small-market bench.
Jackson has been able to rely on all-stars his entire career, Sloan knew how to make due with a handful of all-stars and a small-market bench.
Well they both coached a lot of all-stars in their respective careers, though Jackson probably coached a lot more, including a number of the best players of the last 20 years (Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neil, Scottie Pippen). Sloan on the other hand had one of the best pick-and-roll duos in Stockton and The Mailman, Karl Malone.
Hiring Phil Jackson may be the best move LA can make right now, but long term it's tough to say how it will work out. Kobe can't play forever, Nash and Gasol aren't getting any younger, and Dwight's not a lock to stay in LA.
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