The Lakers are now 1-4, and Lakers Executive Jim Buss is quite aware of it, but that doesn’t mean a coaching change is imminent. Here’s what Buss told ESPN LA after the Lakers lost to the Jazz last night:
“You don’t start 0-3 for the first time since we’ve owned the franchise without being on top of it,” Buss told ESPNLosAngeles.com. “No matter what, you have to be aware. That doesn’t mean change is coming. That just means you have to be aware.”
“I have no problems with Mike Brown at all,” Buss said. “He just works too hard and he’s too knowledgeable for this to be happening.
“So either the system is flawed or something’s going on. Or, like the Triangle, it’s very hard to pick up and understand. I’m not a basketball mind like he is or the players are, and the players are fine with it, so I just have to be patient.”
So what signal is Buss getting from his star player?
“Kobe [Bryant] and I have a relationship where he can just look at me and say, ‘Everything’s cool,'” Buss said. “So yesterday during practice, I gave Kobe a quick glance, and everything was cool.”
The fact of the matter is everything is NOT cool, and even though the season is still in its infancy stages the Lakers are not winning. It is understandable that the Lakers are dealing with some health issues with Steve Nash being out, but 1-4 is cause for concern, and naturally with all of the talent on the Lakers team a focus would be placed on coaching. Mike Brown may work hard and be extremely knowledgeable about the game, but it takes more than that to win Championships. It takes a coach who knows how to MANAGE personalities as well as the game, and unfortunately for Mike Brown both of those are in question.