According to ESPN Los Angeles’ Ramona Shelburne:
Sources close to the team have found there is a “growing concern among some Lakers players as to whether first-year coach Mike Brown and his staff have the X-and-O wherewithal to fix a Lakers offense that is averaging its lowest per-game point total (94) since before the advent of the 24-second shot clock in 1954-55.”
This team came out of the All-Star break hot, winning against Minnesota and Miami, but tapered off and have now lost back-to-back games to the Pistons and Wizards.
There is an extra layer of anxiety for most players on the roster as well, considering the trade deadline is less than a week away and everyone but Kobe Bryant could potentially be moved.
That pressure to perform and not get traded could easily be a reason for why the team has struggled so much in recent days.
It’s also because Mike Brown is no Phil Jackson.
The “zen master” knew how to tame egos and properly manage Kobe Bryant—getting him to defer just enough to keep his teammates interested while still being the alpha dog scorer.
Brown doesn’t massage his star that way and is fine with letting the Black Mamba shoot far too often and recklessly while watching him neglect Pau Gasol’s and Andrew Bynum’s touches.
It’s a caustic situation and it was bound to happen with so many negative changes made after a disappointing playoff run in 2011.
Brown might be the answer that LA is looking for, but they need to start winning games and get through the trade deadline before they can start trusting him.
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Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
