Lavar Ball: Players don't want to play for Luke anymore

ISayshowmee · Post #61 » by **ISayshowmee** » Sun Jan 7, 2018 9:37 pm

Please give Lavar a standing BOO if this idiot attend a Lakers game. Thank you.

Landsberger · Post #62 » by **Landsberger** » Sun Jan 7, 2018 9:37 pm

Interesting the different takes on Luke. Liking him has nothing to do with it for me. Results are what coaches are graded on. Right now his team is, at some level, in disarray. Coaching IS keeping the team together. I think it's becoming evident he's having issues doing that right now. Winning is good deodorant for sure and all of this may be a distant memory if we win 4 of 6 or something like that. Then again, it may not.

My take on Luke is that he's a coach without the experience to build a system from scratch around a given group of talent. He's continually putting mismatched pieces on the floor and hoping that the system fixes it for him. The comment a few weeks ago about counting the number of passes in a game/quarter etc. was evident to me that he's bound to a system and is grasping at ways to hammer our specific talent to fit it. Phil had the triangle and he had Jordan and Kobe. That system bent significantly to those players talents. We're not seeing any movement of the system to the players. What we are seeing is players playing regardless of their contribution while some have consistently good contributions and don't play as much. You can't treat a TEAM that way and keep it a team.

We need to face the fact that we have inexperience at the coaching level as much as we have it on the floor. The NBA doesn't typically wait for coaches to mature so I think Luke will make it through this "development" year but he might not be here next year if/when we get guys who don't have the time to wait and may not fit the GS system.

DaddyCool19 · Post #63 » by **DaddyCool19** » Sun Jan 7, 2018 9:53 pm

https://streamable.com/ujmu8

Q: Are you fine with Luke being your coach? I mean, do you like him as a coach?

A: I'll play for anybody.

Hank7 · Post #64 » by **Hank7** » Sun Jan 7, 2018 10:15 pm

DaddyCool19 wrote:https://streamable.com/ujmu8

Q: Are you fine with Luke being your coach? I mean, do you like him as a coach?

A: I'll play for anybody.

Yeah, i know.

bulliedog8 · Post #65 » by **bulliedog8** » Sun Jan 7, 2018 10:26 pm

Read on Twitter

Up-And-Coming · Post #66 » by **Up-And-Coming** » Sun Jan 7, 2018 11:02 pm

Meh.. I definitely don't like Lavar criticizing the Laker's coaching publicly. It's just another distraction.. with that said Luke's substitutions have been very robotic and head scratching

No name · Post #67 » by **No name** » Sun Jan 7, 2018 11:26 pm

dub81 wrote:
TyCobb wrote:I've said before he should be fined for some of his rotations... he is young and inexperienced, but he is still our longterm guy. Need to get rid of some players and we can go from there.

I don't mind Lavar talking like this...everybody needs accountability, even our head coach of the present and future.

He's exercising his right as an American citizen to speak. No matter if you disagree with him or not. In regarding the comments. It's not without merit.

Getting blown out by Grizzlies and losing to a poor Charlotte team at home is a cause of concern. Doesn't help that Magic and Rob stated basically that some player's aren't going to be here next year either. Never heard a GM say that before the start of the season.

Rights is not an excuse to defy reason. I have the right to call my wife's best friend sexy on Facebook. That's not a logical move. It's downright stupid.

DEEP3CL · Post #68 » by **DEEP3CL** » Sun Jan 7, 2018 11:28 pm

dockingsched wrote:I’m pretty sure these adult players can differentiate between Lonzo and his crazy father for those concerned about Lonzo’s relationship with his teammates.

No doubt the front office is concerned about Lavar’s comments, but don’t think there’s need to stretch that concern to Lonzo himself.

You could very much stretch concern to Zo, you can't possibly move forward as a team trying to build a contender and having this type of baggage in your back pocket. Let's look at this way, if the Lakers were say winning and Zo wasn't much of a factor in those outcomes because the team had all star level talent that was better, LaVar would still find something to chirp about. The man can never shut up.

As an organization you can't remotely move forward and progress to where you want to get with LaVar in tow. Now if you traded Zo you trade the headache and never have to worry what LaVar is going to say. Let it be somebody else problem.

Naturally the Lakers aren't at that level yet, but you can't say it won't ever come to it if you can't control this guy. Zo is just an asset,he can be moved as easily as anyone else as long as the team can make a deal with they attain some value out of it...but he can be move.

I could guarantee Dr.Buss would only stand for so much of this, Doc didn't mind taking chances and I'm sure Magic learned that from him.

Desiderium · Post #69 » by **Desiderium** » Sun Jan 7, 2018 11:34 pm

Let's face it, we as Lakers fans are going to criticize any coach not named Phil Jackson. We've struggled the last 5 years, having gone through 5 head coaches. it's time to look at the players, it's their job to show up and play hard at the game. All this talk about players not wanting to play for Luke, play for your self goddamn it. Show the rest of the league you're worth the contract you're going to ask for rather than giving up and pouting. They're grown ass man, not high school kids.

DEEP3CL · Post #70 » by **DEEP3CL** » Sun Jan 7, 2018 11:39 pm

Another reason why LaVar is so off base with these statements about the players not wanting to play for him....

We have guys that are free agents, a free agent is NEVER going to not play hard because he's playing for a coach he doesn't vibe with. These guys are playing for contracts on another team and if they showed the least amount of effort it only hurts their value to attain the best deal they can get.

No coach will factor in their play like him or not, and that player's agent will go as far to debunk any negative view a team may think of him in case they wanted to meet with him.

Yeah guys have checked out on their coach but you usually see that towards the end of a season not right in the middle. And I would hope for Zo's sake that he didn't reiterate this in a convo with his dad even though LaVar said they haven't spoken,all this would be is D-Lo all over again.

Now I doubt any of these players have spoken like that to each other or as a group, but you can't rule out this factor because LaVar couldn't even bring that up if it wasn't discussed ?

Post #71 » by **milesfides** » Mon Jan 8, 2018 12:02 am

The front office’s agenda has to be a factor in the lineups, minute distribution, and opportunities.

You can’t reduce all the struggles to Luke’s coaching.

Landsberger · Post #72 » by **Landsberger** » Mon Jan 8, 2018 12:21 am

DEEP3CL wrote:Another reason why LaVar is so off base with these statements about the players not wanting to play for him....

We have guys that are free agents, a free agent is NEVER going to not play hard because he's playing for a coach he doesn't vibe with. These guys are playing for contracts on another team and if they showed the least amount of effort it only hurts their value to attain the best deal they can get.

No coach will factor in their play like him or not, and that player's agent will go as far to debunk any negative view a team may think of him in case they wanted to meet with him.

Yeah guys have checked out on their coach but you usually see that towards the end of a season not right in the middle. And I would hope for Zo's sake that he didn't reiterate this in a convo with his dad even though LaVar said they haven't spoken,all this would be is D-Lo all over again.

Now I doubt any of these players have spoken like that to each other or as a group, but you can't rule out this factor because LaVar couldn't even bring that up if it wasn't discussed ?

The comment about LaVar not talking to Lonzo is a dead give away. Are we to believe that LaVar goes a day without talking to Lonzo.... just a month or or so ago we heard that they "download" after every game. Which is it? You talk after every game or you don't talk. My guess is that if you turn down a call from LaVar he's at your door in 30 minutes....

Sedale Threatt · Post #73 » by **Sedale Threatt** » Mon Jan 8, 2018 12:21 am

"As president of the Coaches Association, I view the recent ESPN article as a disgrace quite honestly. Luke Walton is a terrific young coach who is bringing along a young team and it’s a difficult task. If you don’t believe it, just ask me. We’re going through it now, we’ve been through it last year.

"ESPN is an NBA partner, and they’ve been a great one. Part of that partnership. ... the coaches do a lot of things to help them with access, interviews and all those kinds of things. In exchange for that, they should back up the coaches. Printing an article where the father of an NBA player has an opinion that is printed as anything like legitimate erodes trust. It erodes the trust we’ve built with ESPN, and our coaches are upset.

"Luke Walton does not deserve that. Two years ago, he took a veteran team and led them to 24 wins in a row, which is an amazing accomplishment. He earned the Laker job. To have to deal with these ignorant distractions is deplorable."

-- Rick Carlisle

Vae Victus · Post #74 » by **Vae Victus** » Mon Jan 8, 2018 12:37 am

I've always like Carlisle and was wishful he'd replace PJax after he retired from us the 2nd time.

Whatever talent level u give him, he'll maximize it to the best of his abilities.

Crooked-I · Post #75 » by **Crooked-I** » Mon Jan 8, 2018 12:39 am

danfantastk32 wrote:
Crooked-I wrote:I think Luke's job is pretty safe for the rest of the year. If we hit big in free agency I think he gets fired for a more veteran coach. If we miss on free agency, I think he stays and rides the tank till we get some better players.

I watched Nets game sometimes cuz of D'lo and their coaching staff is miles and miles ahead of ours. Everything from the system they run to player development. Their coaching staff made Lopez into a top 5-10 center. Our coaching staff makes him look like a bonafied scrub. You got KCP thinking he's Kobe and jacking up contested 3s off screens and in transition 1 on 5. You got him trying to throw the ball of the backboard to himself but completely missing and hitting the 24 shot clock for gods sake.

There's just so much crap that's been happening that I don't blame our young players for getting frustrated. There's no structure, players don't have specific roles. You got Caruso playing one half, then Ennis playing the other half. You got Julius coming in at the 8 minute mark of he second then not playing the rest of the game. Same with Larry. It's just a free for all. Luke is just in over his head and has no clue what he's doing. I remember with Phil he's always maximize everyone's skill set. No matter how garbage the player was, he'd find a role for them and put them in a position to succeed. Luke is the exact opposite.

It's funny....we're looking at Luke and seeing much the same thing, only I come to an opposite conclusion. I think Luke would be much better served to coach at team of veterans. If we were to trade several of our young guys, and bring in PG, and Lebron and a couple vets-min guys....I think Luke would be much better. If we don't sign anyone...then I think we need to go get a coach who can start developing these guys...cause so far I don't see Luke doing that.

Back when we were looking to sign Luke...I always said we should get Mark Jackson. I always thought he dealt with developing the Warriors great. Their (quote-unquote) 'great defense' (I've always felt GS were a 'good' defensive team at best, but whatever) jad Jackson's stamp all over it. I think the Warriors did it 100% there....Jackson developed them, gave them their identity, and took them about as far as he was gonna. They then went and got a coach to tweak, to be lenient, to be that "players coach" type, and bring the best out of them. A guy who basically steers the car.

I think Luke would have been a better fit to coach this team after about 3-4 years of a guy like Jackson whipping them into shape. I think the players would have been better for it as well

I have trouble seeing guys like Lebron, Boogie, and PG13 ever respecting a guy like Luke who's barely in his late 30s and as happy go lucky as Luke is. Not sure he really has the personality to coach those guys to the promise land. I can see Luke's inconsistent rotations getting to those guys as well. Not saying Luke would ever cut those guys minutes, but constantly having to play with different guys in different rotations would probably get on their nerves.

Steve Kerr is a players coach, but he also brought in a system that changed the team. Also Ron Adams changed the team as well. After seeing Luke's system the past two years, i think most of us can agree it's trash.

Post #76 » by **Kilroy** » Mon Jan 8, 2018 12:42 am

It had to come from somewhere... We're a terrible team right now and Luke's the coach.
Is the fact that it came from Lavar really that big a deal?

Crooked-I · Post #77 » by **Crooked-I** » Mon Jan 8, 2018 12:42 am

No name wrote:
dub81 wrote:
TyCobb wrote:I've said before he should be fined for some of his rotations... he is young and inexperienced, but he is still our longterm guy. Need to get rid of some players and we can go from there.

I don't mind Lavar talking like this...everybody needs accountability, even our head coach of the present and future.

He's exercising his right as an American citizen to speak. No matter if you disagree with him or not. In regarding the comments. It's not without merit.

Getting blown out by Grizzlies and losing to a poor Charlotte team at home is a cause of concern. Doesn't help that Magic and Rob stated basically that some player's aren't going to be here next year either. Never heard a GM say that before the start of the season.

Rights is not an excuse to defy reason. I have the right to call my wife's best friend sexy on Facebook. That's not a logical move. It's downright stupid.

Agreed. Would be dumb to do it where people can see it. Better to text her.

Michael Lucky · Post #78 » by **Michael Lucky** » Mon Jan 8, 2018 12:43 am

Sedale Threatt wrote:"As president of the Coaches Association, I view the recent ESPN article as a disgrace quite honestly. Luke Walton is a terrific young coach who is bringing along a young team and it’s a difficult task. If you don’t believe it, just ask me. We’re going through it now, we’ve been through it last year.

"ESPN is an NBA partner, and they’ve been a great one. Part of that partnership. ... the coaches do a lot of things to help them with access, interviews and all those kinds of things. In exchange for that, they should back up the coaches. Printing an article where the father of an NBA player has an opinion that is printed as anything like legitimate erodes trust. It erodes the trust we’ve built with ESPN, and our coaches are upset.

"Luke Walton does not deserve that. Two years ago, he took a veteran team and led them to 24 wins in a row, which is an amazing accomplishment. He earned the Laker job. To have to deal with these ignorant distractions is deplorable."

-- Rick Carlisle

Sad that others are forced to state the obvious. He's 100% right, it's pathetic that ESPN has given Lavar the platform to criticize a head coach and made it into a national story.

RamonSessions7 · Post #79 » by **RamonSessions7** » Mon Jan 8, 2018 12:46 am

It's funny watching people blast "loud mouth" lavar for this. We're scraping the bottom of the league when we thought we'd be at least a bit better than this. Some story was gonna come out at any minute calling for some changes, which usually equal "fire the coach" or trade the player(s) that fans don't see as part of the future. Also paren't of players of various sports at various levels calling out how their kid is being handled isn't exactly being created by Lavar. It's just big because of the large platform he receives.

Sedale Threatt · Post #80 » by **Sedale Threatt** » Mon Jan 8, 2018 12:48 am

Michael Lucky wrote:
Sedale Threatt wrote:"As president of the Coaches Association, I view the recent ESPN article as a disgrace quite honestly. Luke Walton is a terrific young coach who is bringing along a young team and it’s a difficult task. If you don’t believe it, just ask me. We’re going through it now, we’ve been through it last year.

"ESPN is an NBA partner, and they’ve been a great one. Part of that partnership. ... the coaches do a lot of things to help them with access, interviews and all those kinds of things. In exchange for that, they should back up the coaches. Printing an article where the father of an NBA player has an opinion that is printed as anything like legitimate erodes trust. It erodes the trust we’ve built with ESPN, and our coaches are upset.

"Luke Walton does not deserve that. Two years ago, he took a veteran team and led them to 24 wins in a row, which is an amazing accomplishment. He earned the Laker job. To have to deal with these ignorant distractions is deplorable."

-- Rick Carlisle

Sad that others are forced to state the obvious. He's 100% right, it's pathetic that ESPN has given Lavar the platform to criticize a head coach and made it into a national story.

I don't blame ESPN. It's not their job to censor anyone. Rather, I appreciate Carlisle calling out LaVar for being a jackass, per usual.