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NBA: 7 ways Lakers can achieve basketball nirvana

By Josh Hill

Dec 2, 2014; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) during the game against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 2, 2014; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) during the game against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 25, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau calls a play in the second quarter during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks in game four of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 25, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau calls a play in the second quarter during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks in game four of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /

7. Hire Tom Thibodeau

Byron Scott isn’t a terrible head coach — he’s just not the right head coach for the Lakers right now. It seems a bit rough to axe him in order to rebuild, but the Lakers aren’t in this to make friends. Being an NBA head coach is one of the most thankless and unforgiving jobs on the planet, and replacing Scott with Tom Thibodeau could rescue the franchise.

The Bulls made a mistake when they fired Thibs, and the criticism that he wears players down is more often than not interpreted as Thibs sucking every last drop of defensive talent out of a player and applying to his game plan.

What the Bulls looked like when Thibs took over in 2010 and what the Lakers look like now aren’t all that different. D’Angelo Russell is a star point guard in the making, Julius Randle is a talented big and adding another giant body to play center for the future could be the Lakers’ version of Joakim Noah.

You can’t carbon copy the Bulls that Thibs coached up, but you can follow the blueprint. If nothing else, Thibs is one of the best coaches in basketball, and he might be what the Lakers need to turn things around. He’s not going to take shortcuts, he’s not going to be easy to work for but the results speak for themselves in Chicago.

If Thibs can get control over the Lakers he didn’t have in Chicago, then those are fingerprints you want all over your rebuilt franchise.

Next: 10 Teams That Should Sign Dwyane Wade

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