http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/stor ... ly-meeting
Their message was clear: Trade rumors do not matter; your feelings about management or the coaching staff don't matter; all that matters is that the 14 men in that locker room support and believe in one another. If they stay together and stay on the same page, they can get to where they want to go as a team.
But there are other issues as well. Some of the Lakers are having trouble adjusting to Mike Brown's coaching style, which is a sharp contrast to Phil Jackson's. One player said the Lakers' body language and attitude at the shootaround was poor and that it set the tone for Sunday's listless performance. But he expressed optimism that Brown, without being asked by the players, chose not to have a shootaround before Monday's game.
Another sign of growth in the relationship between Brown and his players may be his decision recently to grant them more freedom on the floor. For most of the season, Brown has called out offensive plays practically every time down the floor. But about a week-and-a-half ago, Brown began taking his foot off the brakes and now he's calling plays only about half the time, according to a player. Having won two titles in the past three years, the players feel they deserve that kind of freedom and will blossom with it.
Just a historical fact about NBA players and my personal observation on team chemistry.
