Byron Scott won’t sit Kobe Bryant because of poor play
By Josh Wilson
Los Angeles Lakers head coach Byron Scott said that he would never sit superstar Kobe Bryant, no matter how bad he is playing.
Byron Scott has been criticized all year for some poor coaching moves with the Los Angeles Lakers. With a franchise that’s been historically very good, you’re going to have a lot of eyes scanning your every move as head coach, especially when you’re leading a legend such as Kobe Bryant.
Scott has already been largely criticized by fans and analysts for not using the rookie point guard D’Angelo Williams, and for continuing to trust the aging star that Bryant is. Speaking to ESPN, Scott continued to make eyes roll as he told them that no matter what happens, he would be supportive of Bryant by not benching him.
"“I would never, never, never do that,” Scott said after practice at the Lakers’ facility. “That’s not an option whatsoever. No, that’s not an option.”"
If any other name was attached to Bryant’s stat line, he would have been benched a long time ago. But because this is a player that has been to nearly 20 All Star games, won five championships, and won the scoring award five times, Scott has been reluctant to give him less playing time, and more bench time.
Bryant is coming off of a season-ending injury, and his return has been less than spectacular. Although he’s scoring 15.2 points per game, shooting just 31.1% from the field, 19.5% from beyond the three point arc, and taking well over 16 shots per game. Air balls are not as much of a rarity for Bryant as they used to be.
Scott’s coaching decisions seem to be getting worse and worse. I get it, it’s Kobe, but there’s a tipping point to every scale. If he’s playing bad enough, he needs to be benched, or at least have his minutes limited. Scott (to ESPN) said that neither him being reduced to an off-the-bench player, or him getting minutes reduced would be occurring.
The reasoning for not lessening Bryant’s role is that he wants to put him–and the team–in the best position to succeed, but by keeping him in the game it seems to be doing quite the opposite.