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Hard Screens Podcast: 2015-16 Los Angeles Lakers Preview

By Shane Young

Oct 8, 2015; Ontario, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) and forward Julius Randle (30) react during the game against the Toronto Raptors at Citizens Business Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 8, 2015; Ontario, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) and forward Julius Randle (30) react during the game against the Toronto Raptors at Citizens Business Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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After claiming five NBA championships in 11 years, spanning from 2000 to 2010, the Los Angeles Lakers were launched in a completely different trajectory.

They lost Phil Jackson. They traded Andrew Bynum. They traded Lamar Odom. They traded Derek Fisher. They amnestied Metta World Peace.

Oh, but that doesn’t even begin to describe it.

Hard Screens Podcast
Oct 13, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) reacts during the game against the Sacramento Kings at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Not too long after those major departures from the 2009 and 2010 championship rosters, Jim Buss and Mitch Kupchak decided to hire Mike D’Antoni over re-hiring Phil Jackson. It cost them two years of happiness, and perhaps a torn Achilles’ tendon for Kobe Bryant. Once D’Antoni stepped down — before the organization had a chance to terminate him — the only two components that resembled battle-tested champions were Bryant, and Pau Gasol.

But, wait … there was more devastating news for the Lakers.

Gasol wasn’t fond of sticking around for the gradual rebuild, as he found the first door out of Los Angeles. It happened to be with Chicago, where he’s putting together some of the most impressive performances of his 15-year career.

All that was left standing was Bryant, now surrounded by a group of young garter snakes trying to develop Black Mamba qualities. It wasn’t until Metta World Peace re-joined the Lakers this summer, that Byron Scott would have another trusted veteran to mentor the 19-24 year old projects.

In addition to losing many key pieces to the championship puzzle, the Lakers also lost something quite valuable.

They kept losing games.

In the last two seasons, D’Antoni and Byron Scott have compiled 48 total wins. In one season alone, the Lakers have won more than 48 games in 10 of the last 14 years. The only years they were under 48 wins were 2012-13 (The Dwightmare), 2006-07, 2005-06, and 2004-05 (The Shaq aftermath).

Last year, Scott coached the team through its worst season in franchise history. It wasn’t even just their 21 wins that stuck out. It was compounded by the embarrassing defensive effort given on a nightly basis. They were the second-worst unit in defensive rating, allowing over 110.5 points per 100 possessions and letting opponents shoot 46.6% from the field against them.

As we prepare for what can only be an improved season — because we’d probably vomit seeing anything worse — I decided to preview the 2015-16 Lakers on our latest Hard Screens Podcast.

This episode was recorded earlier in the preseason, before Los Angeles took the court for their third game. All of the discussion is still pertinent to what’s in store for this strange group of players. The average age of the Lakers’ roster is 26.7 years, with five players over 30, and six that are 23 years old or younger.

My guest for today isn’t an NBA writer, but he’s a peer of mine from the University of Louisville — Marcus Harper. I’ve had nothing but tremendous interactions with Marcus since meeting him two years ago, and he’s very knowledgeable and credible on the Lakers’ current core, the history, and what has shaped the franchise’s culture.

After listening, feel free to give Marcus a follow on Twitter, by clicking here.

Enjoy the show!

Next: In-Depth Ranking of All 30 Point Guards

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