While fans continue to wait for the Byron Scott to fill out the remainder of his coaching staff, the Lakers’ developmental team, the Los Angeles D-Fenders, have announced the hiring Phil Hubbard as their new head coach:
OFFICIAL: The LA #DFenders have named Phil Hubbard as Head Coach, it was announced today
— L.A. D-Fenders (@DFenders) August 28, 2014
Hubbard is a proven coach, most recently as an assistant coach with the Santa Cruz Warriors where he helped guide the team to the D-League Finals. He also has experience coaching in Los Angeles as an assistant coach for the D-Fenders during from 2011-2013.
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While his accomplishments would certainly merit his new job as the head coach of the D-Fenders, Bill Oram of OC Register says that Scott may have had a say in the matter:
Former D-Fenders coach Bob MacKinnon was sent packing after D’Antoni left. Told me Lakers wanted BScott to have say in who ran feeder team
— Bill Oram (@bill_oram) August 28, 2014
Scott wanting to have a say about who ran the D-Fenders makes sense on numerous levels. Scott has a much different philosophy than his predecessor Mike D’Antoni, and he wants his D-League affiliate to mirror his style.
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Last season, the D-Fenders won 31 games, best in the Western Division, but lost to the Santa Cruz Warriors in the playoffs. Ryan Kelly had some great games for the team before being called up to the Lakers.
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