Los Angeles Lakers: Luke Walton’s Ejection Can Be A Lesson Learned
By Jason Oliver
Luke Walton was ejected Monday night but rather than dwelling on the negatives, the Los Angeles Lakers can use it as a learning experience.
Much has been made of the inexperience and the time needed to develop for the young Los Angeles Lakers core.
D’Angelo Russell, Julius Randle and Brandon Ingram are all learning their craft before our eyes and are forgiven for off nights and questionable plays, but it’s not a luxury for every rookie.
Luke Walton may already be an unofficial joint recipient of the Coach of the Year award but entering the 2016-17 season, he’s regarded as much of a rookie coach as Ingram is a rookie player.
The fact Walton was able to take the Golden State Warriors to a 39-4 record to open the 2015-16 season in Steve Kerr’s absence means very little now. It’s a different ball game heading up your own team. It’s a different challenge installing your own systems rather than somebody else’s.
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The Lakers’ locker room has been singing Walton’s praises all season.
His rapport with the players and the respect he has so far garnered has been a far cry for the franchise, but after being ejected with 4:41 left in the first quarter against the Sacramento Kings on Monday night, Walton sat in the locker room in silence.
The missed call that ignited Walton’s obscenity-laden spray towards the officials was more akin to a rugby tackle than a basketball play. DeMarcus Cousins threw Randle to the ground and no whistle sounded.
What ensued was an arguably justified verbal tirade directed at the seemingly blind officiating crew.
Walton’s words certainly didn’t fall on deaf ears.
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He was given a pair of technicals on the spot as well as one for Randle — the first three of an eventual six technicals in the game.
The Lakers battled on and used it as motivation for a 34-18 second quarter and a 58-49 halftime lead.
It wouldn’t last.
With no Walton and nobody to evict Cousins from his 35-minute residency in the Lakers’ painted area, the youngsters looked dazed and confused.
Cousins inadvertently threw the Lakers’ coach out of the game then picked them apart posting 31 points, 16 rebounds, five assists and three blocks.
The Lakers looked lost with nobody to definitively take control of the situation as the technicals and no-calls got into the heads of the youngsters and shook them up. It didn’t go noticed by their coach post game, per NBA.com:
"“I felt like for the first time this season we kind of gave in. We gave up which is disheartening because our group has been very resilient all year long”"
The 116-92 final score could be regarded as borderline flattering as it could have been a lot worse. Outside of the Luol Deng resurgence and some all too familiar Larry Nance Jr.hustle, there wasn’t much on the court to write home about.
Russell looks to be finding his feet on his return from injury but with a minutes restriction hanging over his head, there’s little he could do.
The ejection was a learning experience for a rookie coach and a character building exercise for a young team.
Walton didn’t seem too bothered by his ejection and its impact on this particular game saying:
"“I thought it wasn’t right what happened out there, so I stood up for my guys. Like I will every time”."
The Lakers have exceeded expectations early on for the 2016-17 season but on the back of a seven-game losing streak, the wheels have well and truly fallen off the Lakers’ hot start.
Winning was never the motivation for this season. Growing as a team, developing as players, and pulling the franchise out from the doldrums in the post-Kobe era is at the top of the list.
To quote Colin Powell:
"“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.”"
Last night was a failure in almost every way. It doesn’t have to be if things change next time this situation arises.
It’s a win-or-learn season for the Lakers. With the seven Ls behind them and six away games ahead these may be their most important lessons of the season. In the meantime, Walton has to hope the ensuing suspension doesn’t keep him in the stands too long.
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The Lakers have learned enough on how to deal with an absent head coach for now.