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Lakers: Five reasons Byron Scott must be fired this season

By Tom West

Nov 16, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach Byron Scott watches on from the sidelines during the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Lakers 120-101. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 16, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach Byron Scott watches on from the sidelines during the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Lakers 120-101. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 9, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) looks on during the first half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 9, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) looks on during the first half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

1) Tanking is not the right plan for the Lakers

The culmination of all these factors is that whether Scott is secretly trying to tank or he’s just a terrible coach, he certainly isn’t the right guy for the Lakers. It sounds comical that he’d want to tank rather than develop, but that’s what it looks like. At the very least, as was discussed on the last slide, Scott isn’t trying to rebuild this franchise. He isn’t trying to develop a young group of talent for the future. He isn’t allowing Kobe to become the teacher of the youth by making him reduce his shots to increase opportunities for others.

As a matter of fact, does anyone have a clue what Scott is trying to do? If so, share it with the basketball world, because everyone seems baffled. The list goes on and on when it comes to his flaws and decision making.

The Philadelphia 76ers are in a different situation, because besides Jahlil Okafor, Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid if he’s ever healthy, they don’t really have any players they’re building their future around. They may even trade them, as apparently the process is all about moves that appear to make no sense. On the other hand, the Lakers have players like Russell, Clarkson, Randle, and future role players like Lou Williams and even Larry Nance Jr. that they can keep and build the team around going forward.

Tanking simply isn’t the way of the Lakers. It’s not in their history, it’s nowhere in the mind or soul of Kobe who’s still around for a while yet, and it’s not what fans or anyone else want to see. Furthermore, it’s a terrible mindset to establish while the goal should be to develop and inspire the young talent that is in play right now.

Of course the Lakers aren’t going to win much, and there isn’t an expectation to climb high up the Western Conference. Yet, with coaching decisions coming from Scott such as benching future stars, doing little to change their defensive mindset, holding back the young players from progressing, and seemingly trying to tank his way forward, the Lakers aren’t rebuilding in the right way.

The longer Byron Scott is in L.A., the longer it’s going to be till the Lakers can truly set off in the direction they need to. That’s why despite the struggles any coach will have with this young team, the poor decisions and mindset of Scott needs to be fired before this season is over.

Hopefully someone in the front office is able to come to that realization.

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