Byron Scott has decided to take on arguably the toughest challenge of his coaching career. Accepting a four-year deal to be the new head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers was a bold move considering the state of the storied franchise.
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Scott will take over for Mike D’Antoni after a franchise-worst 27 wins for the Lakers last season. Although the odds are against Scott to turn things around in his first season in Los Angeles, the new Lakers coach promises a new brand of basketball and a tougher team next season:
Well, you know the one thing I won’t do is put any expectations on our guys as far as wins and losses. But what I can tell our fans is that this team will play hard every single night, it will be a different brand of basketball than they’ve seen the last four or five years, this team will compete every single night, especially on the defensive end, and it will be a much more physical, tougher team than we’ve had here in recent years. But on the offensive team, this team will be a team that still looks to get up and down the floor when we can, and if we don’t, we’re going to be a pretty good half-court team as well.
After missing on the opportunity to sign LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, the Lakers were forced to pursue other options this summer to help upgrade the roster. Ultimately, the team acquired Jeremy Lin and Carlos Boozer while also bringing back the majority of the players from last season’s roster.
Although Lin could turn out to be an upgrade at the point guard position, the moves made by the Lakers didn’t turn any heads around the league or convince anyone this team will be a force to be reckoned with.
That being said, Scott will have his work cut out for him as he attempts to put the pieces back together in Los Angeles.
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