Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss was never going to hire Scott in the first place. There were other times the former Laker great had a chance to come to coach his hometown team but an offer never came.
In 2004, when Shaquille O’Neal was traded and Jackson left the Lakers, Scott could have easily been given the opportunity to coach his former team. He had been fired during the season by the New Jersey Nets and didn't go to the New Orleans Hornets until 2005.
Believe me, Scott would have jumped at the opening in a heartbeat. But no way was Buss going that route.
And, at least in my opinion, Scott is a great coach, and I'm happy he's back in the fraternity. Whether LeBron James resigns or not, the Cavs will be good under Scott. He can't help but be an excellent coach.
But none of that matters to Jerry Buss. He is not a fan of Byron Scott’s coaching style, and while other members of the Lakers organization might have wanted Scott on the sideline, the elder Buss pulls the strings. Always.
This time around, there is another reason why Scott was never going to coach this version of the Lakers: the Triangle Offense.
Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and company are not going to learn a new offense. The Lakers will run the triangle until the day Kobe retires. And, Gasol is a dream fit for the triangle. This will be their offense for as long as they play together. Kobe knows no other offense (if you don’t count him going one on five!!).
So, Phil returning comes as no surprise either, except for that I thought he would go out on top. I guess from his press release today, he still has the fire and the challenge for one more run or “grand o...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
