We’ve seen it many times before. When a team with high expectations starts losing, the first one to face blame is the Coach. And although the Lakers won their last contest, staff in the Lakers organization have been none too happy with the attention the Lakers struggles are receiving. Couple that with the fact the players are losing confidence in the Coach, his system, and even his use of players in the rotation. Could Mike Brown be facing the end of his time in Los Angeles?
After the win, the always-blunt Bryant said that the players “were good,” but acknowledged that Brown really needed the win.
“I think it’s more of a relief for Mike than it is for anybody else,” Bryant said.
Fans have already started calling for Brown’s job and many of his players have started wondering if he’s the right person to lead the team. Behind closed doors, they’ve questioned Brown’s rotation and how players have been utilized through four games.
The HoopsWorld source goes on to explain that many believe Steve Nash and Dwight Howard have the potential pairing to be a Stockton and Malone type with the pick and roll. Although Dwight is a poor man’s Malone in the scoring department, Stockton really would be considered a poor man’s Nash in the shooting department so it may not be that far from the truth:
Many within NBA circles believe it’s only a matter of time before Brown is fired. Jerry Sloan and Mike D’Antoni are two names that have surfaced as possible replacements for Brown.
“Jerry Sloan to L.A. by December 1,” one league source predicted. “Nash and Howard are the new Stockton and Malone. He wants a ring, not to mention the money. He didn’t seriously consider Orlando, Charlotte or Portland [openings] over the summer because he knew Los Angeles would open up.”
(Source HoopsWorld)
