Los Angeles Lakers’ Byron Scott: ‘It’s going to be a tough road for us’

Jul 29, 2014; El Segundo, CA, USA; Byron Scott is introduced as Los Angeles Lakers coach at a press conference at Toyota Sports Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 29, 2014; El Segundo, CA, USA; Byron Scott is introduced as Los Angeles Lakers coach at a press conference at Toyota Sports Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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After a lengthy search that included several different interviews with Bryon Scott, the Lakers finally named Scott their head coach. Scott is taking over a team with a lot of aging players that really needs an upgrade in talent. However, he still expects the Lakers to compete every night and believes they will be an excellent defensive team.

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“I expect us to compete every night,” said Byron Scott on radio Thursday to “The Dan Patrick Show via Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times.” The Lakers are “going to play a tough, physical brand of basketball and we’re going to play defense.”

Scott, however, isn’t denying he has a tough task in front of him.

“It’s going to be a tough road for us.  We have a lot of work to do,” he said.  “I don’t know how good we’re going to be.  I’ve got a lot of guys that I don’t really know.  I’ve got to get to know these guys and see what makes them tick — but I’ve got one guy that I do know what makes him tick and that’s a great piece to have.”

Scott has had success in the postseason in the past despite a rather poor regular season record. Scott has coached the New Jersey (Brooklyn) Nets, New Orleans Hornets (Pelicans) and Cleveland Cavaliers. He has a career regular season record of 416-521 and is 33-24 in the postseason. It should be noted that Scott took over the Cavaliers when LeBron James left for the Miami Heat and was left with an awful roster, meaning he should probably get a pass for that.