Following some big shoes to fill, Mike Brown wasn’t given the best opportunity to show what he has as a head coach last season; the lockout cut him short of important team bonding and months of competition.
This coming 2012-2013 year will be more important than any season Brown has ever coached. Given a three-year deal worth $18 million that also contains a team option for a fourth year, Brown is getting paid a large sum of money. Too large an amount to screw up a season with a talent-packed team like the Lakers have this year.
Anything short of a Western Conference Finals appearance that has the Lakers losing in fewer than six games will probably mean that Brown will be replaced. Lakers Nation writer Andrew Ungvari lists the five best replacements for Brown if he by chance does not do well this season.
Phil Jackson is first on Ungvari’s list, however, I would disagree. I think Jackson needs to remembered for the legacy he had, and the Lakers need to give the opportunity to a younger coach with a more current mindset. I love Phil, but just like pro athletes who come out of retirement and bomb, I would be afraid to see that happen to Mr. Jackson.
One thing is for sure, Brown is excited for Howard to start playing again. Although no time frame has been announced for the center to return, he has been spotted in the Los Angeles area continuing his rehabilitation and getting back to 100 percent. Brown had this to say:
“His athleticism, combined with his power and strength, and his quickness, and energy is phenomenal,” Brown said. “I mean defensively here’s a guy, that in my opinion, is one of the best pick-and-roll big defenders in the game, to ever play the game. He’s one of the best paint protectors to every play the game. You know, just knowing that he’s down and around the basket is a deterrent.”
More Time Warner Cable news and the upcoming Lakers channel. Many of you have expressed concerns as to what is going to happen with your Laker games if you don’t have TWC. As of right now, TWC is the only provider that will carry its new channel, SportsNet. Other companies are still negotiating for rights to the channel. This will affect some of you, but can also affect the bars you choose to go to watch games. For an update analysis on the current deal, and what could happen with TWC, check out this article.
Lakers Nation sent another poll your way the past few days, and this one was on Pau Gasol. We asked “Which Lakers Star Has the Most To Prove This Season” and all of you decided it was Pau. Next in line was Dwight Howard. If you have any ideas for a questions you would like answered, leave a comment below or tweet me at @ajmoyal with your question. Have a great weekend!
Lakers Nation News
2000-01 Lakers Named Top NBA Team Since 2000
Poll Results: Pau Gasol Has Most to Prove in 2012-13
If Mike Brown Can’t Handle the Load, Who’s Next in Los Angeles?
Video: Will Sale of AEG Affect The Lakers?
Dwight Howard Not Ready to Commit to Lakers…Yet
Dwight Howard Lends Voice to Disney’s ‘Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil’
Mike Brown Talks Dwight Howard’s Impact on the Lakers
No Time Warner TV Deal Could Cause Potential L.A. Economic Problems
Thunder’s Scott Brooks Wants Derek Fisher Back in Oklahoma City
Dwight Howard and Stan Van Gundy to Help Florida Public Schools
Lakers News
Mason and Ireland interview Mike Brown [ESPN]
How Should the Lakers Handle Game-Winning Shots [LA Times]
NBA Rosters Fill Up As Training Camp Approaches [SB Nation]
Dwight Howard Not Yet Ready to Make a Commitment to the Lakers [SLAM Online]
Metta World Peace: “Definitely Possible” Lakers Set NBA Win Record [LA Times]
Jalen Rose Pulls Back The Curtain [Land O’ Lakers]
23 Very Important Lessons Dwight Howard Learned From LeBron’s ‘Decision’ [SB Nation]
Player Capsules 2012, #169-171: Michael Beasley, Ian Mahinmi, Steve Nash [Gothic Gmobli]
Where does Kobe Rank Among the Best Players of All Time [Dime Magazine]
NBA News
The Night that Manute Bol Found His Touch From Behind The Arc (VIDEO) [Ball Don’t Lie]
Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan Win Rare No-Trade Clauses [SB Nation]
The Miseducation of J.R. Smith [Grantland]
What Happens After “All In”? Rockets Buy Back In [The Dream Shake]
The Point Guard Conundrum [Rufus on Fire]
Keyon Dooling Retires From NBA After 12 Seasons [SB Nation]
Pistons Valued At $332 Million, Ranked 17th In NBA [Motown Lowdown]
New Spurs Uniforms Are Fundamentally Awful [SB Nation]
Sponsors Fleeing Maloofs Amidst Uncertainty Over Kings’ Future [ProBasketballTalk]
Kevin Love Will be Surprised if the Timberwolves Don’t Make the Playoffs This Year [Ball Don’t Lie]
Stephen Curry medically cleared [ESPN]
Jason Terry Day: Get to Know Jason Terry [Celtics Blog]
Decades After Losing Dodgers, Brooklyn Finally Has a Pro Team Again in NBA’s Nets [CBS Sports]
Channing Frye To Miss 2012-13 NBA Season With Enlarged Heart [SB Nation]
Maybe David Stern Isn’t So Bad After All [SB Nation]
Presenting NBA Word Association Day [SB Nation]
