Los Angeles Lakers require patience and poise from their head coach Mike Brown if they want to compete for the title next season
As appealing as the Los Angeles Lakers new line up looks on paper, there title aspirations will only come true if they are able to stay consistent with their goals and the man who needs to ensure this is their head coach Mike Brown.
After a block buster off season, the Lakers look scary to say the least. In Dwight Howard they have one of the best centres in the NBA who averages double-double figures for his career. After spending a devastating last season
with the Orlando Magic, there would be only one thing on Howard’s mind and that is to perform upto his best standards and take the spotlight away from his trade histrionics. And given that he is still to win an NBA Championship, the drive will be huge.
And then there is Steve Nash who undoubtedly is one of the best point guards in the NBA. He would not only be providing Howard with easy chances of scoring but be of great help to the rest of the team, especially the X-factor in
the lineup – Pau Gasol.
While these two have brought more fire power to the Lakers unit already boasting of Kobe Bryant, the question remains whether the Lakers would be able to consistency deliver and form a chemistry strong enough to win a champions
next season.
The solution to that problem lies with Mike Brown.
The Lakers coach had decent assets last season as well, but was way too one dimensional with his strategy. While defence was a priority as it should have been, the offence ran through Kobe, and Kobe alone. The result was that Black
Mamba put up shot after shot – the most he has ever taken since the 2005-2006 campaign. Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol had reduced impact on the offense and whenever they did score it was when they created their own shots or on second chance points.
Brown has more flexibility this time around and in Steve Nash, he has a proven floor general. But will he be able to script out the roles for the remaining superstar’s remains to be seen. After all, superstars have egos as huge
as their status, and nobody wants to take a back seat when the going gets tough.
Brown has to mould these brilliant individuals into one team and for this he has to put his foot down.
Another change Brown seems to be implementing this time around is the introduction of Princeton offence with the hiring of Eddie Jordan. This new offence relies on the big men, player’s abilities to set up screens and make back-door
runs. The system resembles the triangle offence the Lakers are so used to however it’s implemetation will take time and a lot of patience and convincing from Brown.
Last but not the least; Brown needs to use his bench properly. He doesn’t have the best lot as far as the second unit is concerned, but still has enough to make an impact, provided Brown times his moves.
Many believe that Lakers can win a championship just by the injection of Howard and Nash, but the reality is that it is Brown, who hold the strings of success for the Hollywood giants.
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