Los Angeles Lakers: 4 Questionable Mike Brown Coaching Decisions

After an 0-2 start, head coach Mike Brown and the Los Angeles Lakers have temporarily righted the ship, posting a 4-1 record since the two-game losing streak to start the season.

And while Brown, for the most part, has received early-season praise, especially for galvanizing the team’s defense, which is currently ranked in the top 10 in opponents’ points per game and overall defensive rating, there have been a few questionable coaching decisions made by Brown.

Here are four that have me scratching my head.

4. Not Playing Last Year's Starting Lineup Together

Last season the team used: Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Derek Fisher and Metta World Peace as their primary starting lineup.

Since Bynum returned last Saturday against the Denver Nuggets, Mike Brown hasn’t played this combination of players for one minute.

I don’t necessarily think Brown should make the aforementioned lineup the starters again (I happen to love World Peace coming off the bench). However, it wouldn’t hurt to test it out at some point in upcoming games. After all, no other lineup combination has the same experience and familiarity with one another.

3. Keeping Derek Fisher in the Starting Lineup

I have always been a proponent of a team’s five best players starting a game, unless of course a team has the luxury of an All-Star-caliber player coming off the pine, much like the Lakers enjoyed with Lamar Odom the past few seasons, and Manu Ginobili coming off the Spurs’ bench a few seasons back.

To this point, Steve Blake has been the better option at the point guard position than Derek Fisher, a position in which the team needs all of the production it can muster.

The former Maryland Terrapin appears as though he is on his way to bouncing back from his disappointing first season with the Lakers, averaging eight points in 24 minutes, in addition to looking much more comfortable on the floor this season.

Like I said, unless it’s a special instance, the five best players should be on the floor to start a game.

2. Moving Pau Gasol Away from the Post More Often

There is no question Andrew Bynum is the team’s strongest, most intimidating presence in the paint; therefore, it makes more sense for Bynum to do the lion’s share of work on the low block when both he and Pau Gasol are on the floor.

But it appears Gasol has just been roaming around, looking to hit the mid-range jumper (which he hits on a fairly consistent basis) to start the season, when he is—and isn’t—on the floor with Bynum.

I am not sure if this is necessarily a result of Mike Brown’s coaching or just Gasol not working as close to hoop as he has in the past.

I believe Gasol would be better served working closer to the painted area on a consistent basis, for both scoring and passing purposes.

1. Playing Kobe Bryant More Minutes

Through the first seven games of the 2011-12 season, Kobe Bryant is averaging two more minutes per game (35) than last season (33).

If this trend continues, it’s potentially problematic, given the fact Kobe is a year older, playing more games in less time due to the lockout and has a freshly torn wrist ligament.

But when you consider the team isn’t quite as talented as it has been in recent seasons, and it's trying to acclimate playing in a new system, Brown may not have a choice but to play Bryant extended minutes in order to keep Los Angeles' head above water in the ultra-competitive Western Conference.

And while more Kobe during the regular season could potentially lead to the team overachieving, come playoff time, it could lead to a burnt-out, less-than-perfect Black Mamba.