Los Angeles Lakers coach Byron Scott benching Julius Randle and D’Angelo Russell could seal his fate.
Amidst the celebration and fanfare surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers following Kobe Bryant’s retirement announcement, there’s a looming dark cloud. The cloud has nothing to do with Bryant’s decision to leave the game. It doesn’t have anything to do with any uncertainties that may follow once he hangs up his sneakers.
The cloud lingering over this Lakers team comes in the form of Byron Scott and his team plummeting into a direction that they shouldn’t be going. Scott has lost control of this team, and this season isn’t even at its halfway point.
On Monday night, Scott made about as shaky a decision as he could ever imagine making. In a year that’s virtually lost with no chance of building any significant victories, he chose to bench, arguably, the two of the team’s most important pieces to the future. Both Julius Randle and D’Angelo Russell played their first game this year as reserves.
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Again, most teams make these moves on the cusp of contending, or at least having a winning record. The Lakers are now 3-17, and aside from a Black Mamba sendoff, the focus should center around developing their younger talents on a nightly basis. By benching guys and tugging on their confidence, it reduces any chances of the proper development of these players.
To add insult to the matter, Scott went about his choice in a peculiar manner:
Byron said on TWC pre-game that he didn't have individual meetings w/ D'Angelo & Randle, they were informed in this morning's team meeting.
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) December 7, 2015
A talk with both young players about the reasoning for their reduced roles provides some sense of preparation on their parts. By basically benching each guy in a team meeting, it’s certainly not the most roaring endorsement. Both Randle and Russell aren’t the kind of the guys to bring ego into a locker room, but as players who take pride in their opportunity, it stings a bit to go through this.
D’Angelo Russell spoke about the decision:
D'Angelo: "I was starting to figure it out and then this happened....I've never been in the (back-up) position."
— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) December 7, 2015
Comments like that from Russell aren’t good things at all. The bad news for Lakers fans hoping for Scott’s demise is that he’s likely coaching out this season. It’s his final season under contract and the chances of his return being considered are slim to none. If there’s good news, it’s that this team is not getting any better, which means that protected top-three pick is very well in play.
While the Lakers can potentially add to their young core, the team must prepare for the end of the Byron Scott era, hopefully. The last three seasons have been, historically, the worst that fans have witnessed. Even times under Mike D’Antoni weren’t so bad, as he led the team to its last winning record during the 2013-14 season, starting 10-9 after 19 games.
D’Antoni compiled this record while playing an injury riddled Pau Gasol, Wes Johnson, and a one-legged, 39 year old Steve Nash. Scott has struggled mightily with a much better team from top to bottom (3-17 after 20 games).
For now, the Lakers must just pretend that everything is fine and hope an implosion doesn’t publicly spill. While the Bryant retirement may be big enough to cover up any messes, players being dissatisfied with their roles could prove otherwise. Scott isn’t showing anyone the “Laker Way” that got him championships and the job that he currently holds.
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What he’s doing is a dangerous thing, and hopefully the next few games can revert him to the right track.