Jim Buss not happy with direction of Los Angeles Lakers – NBA Update
Los Angeles Lakers owner Jim Buss has been behind some of most important decisions the franchise has taken in the last few years. Some of them have been excellent, like the acquisition of Steve Nash and Dwight Howard this off season,
while others have been equally bad – the hiring of Mike Brown last season and ignoring Phil Jackson this around, being a few.
And now that the Lakers are deep in it, the man sounds frustrated;
“It’s very frustrating, because I think there are many little factors that are causing the issues that we’re having,” Buss wrote in a text message to USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday. “Nash, injuries, (a) new system. Like I said before,
there are a lot of little ones, but the ones that figure to help the most would be Nash returning (and) Gasol returning and just playing together in a new system.”
Buss is considered to be the main man behind the hiring of Mike D’Antoni as the Lakers coach this season. While some people want to believe that it was due to his personal grudge against P-Jax, Buss and Mitch Kupchak have always
maintained the at the decision was taken because D’Antoni’s system appeared better suited to the present Lakers roster. The presence of Steve Nash certainly supported their argument, but the iconic point guard has been injured since the second regular season
game
Steve understands Mike D’Antoni’s system better than the coach himself and in his absence; the Lakers have been clueless on the floor. The guard is still weeks away from return, and after the recent loss against the New York Knicks,
things are not looking good.
Then there is the case of Pau Gasol and the poor defence. Gasol has been off colour under Mike D’Antoni, who has not utilized him properly so far. The power forward has missed the last six games with tendinitis in both his knees,
but before the layoffs, he got very few post up touches, something that has been openly criticized by a lot of former Laker greats.
The most infuriating aspect of the Lakers though has been the lack of intensity and purpose. They are certainly not playing as a team and D’Antoni has to do something quick before things get out of hand.
Tags: