Los Angeles Lakers: The “Still” Curious Case of Hiring Mike Brown

Last night America and more importantly Laker fans everywhere were reminded of the same questions that lingered this past offseason.

Why did they hire Mike Brown?

When are the Lakers going to conform and get a fast point guard?

And, finally should we really trade either of “The Bigs?”

The Lakers looked great early on Friday night vs. the Phoenix Suns, but as the game wore on so did the Lakers big lead. Sunday picked up where the Lakers left it Friday night, except instead of just playing like garbage they actually set the “dumpster on fire” so to speak.

For true Laker fans who watched Sunday night's game in its entirety, I have to ask: what were you praying harder for the second half to end? Or hoping the Lakers would make a dent in what seemed like an insurmountable lead late in the third quarter?

It is one thing to lose a close game on Christmas Day to a healthy Derrick Rose Chicago Bull’s team. But it’s another thing to get blown out by an aging Steve Nash Phoenix Sun’s team.

It’s no secret that Mike Brown’s top-heavy defensive system is hurting this heavily-talented offensive team and it’s no surprise this team looks just as lost as it did with Rudy T. at the helm, after the first time Phil Jackson decided to retire.  

So Laker fans, why did Mike Brown seem like a good fit?

Was he really a better choice over Rick Adelman, Brian Shaw, heck even Jeff Van Gundy who spent the last couple years in the booth praising Bryant. Though to most Van Gundy’s praise just appeared to be a way of throwing his hat in the mix once the Zen Master went off to Montana.

I often wonder if Phil Jackson sits at home cashing Audi checks and laughing secretly as the Lakers struggle to score without a true offensive scheme.

And after last night’s comments, Kobe Bryant knows just as well as Laker fans know the problem isn’t this squad, it a lot deeper than that. It starts with Jerry Buss not caring about anything other than Las Vegas and ends with Mitch Kupchak not taking a page out of “The Logo’s” book and standing up to the Buss family, more importantly Jim Buss.

Insiders say the Mike Brown hire was Jim Buss’ choice. But why?

I once heard a Laker hater say “Phil Jackson isn’t a good coach; he has just had the good fortune of implementing a sound system with superstar players.”

Well if that’s the case, then Laker Nation, what is Mike Brown’s problem? I watch sports shows and listen to sports talk all day long and the constant out of every NBA analysts mouth is LeBron James is the best player in the NBA.  Yet it doesn’t make sense that coaching the best player in the NBA only gets you one NBA Finals appearance in which you were swept by none other than your mentor.

If Jim Buss, did have the final say, why didn’t someone, “cough” Mitch Kupchak remind him that even with the so-called best guy in the league this guy was swept in the finals. What’s worse is his true test of a head coach wasn’t even allowed, because the Cleveland Cavaliers made sure he wouldn’t be around after the LeBron Era.

To me, this argument alone should have helped steer Jim Buss in another direction.

Now obviously playing defense has been something the Lakers have improved, but is giving up an offensive game plan worth losing nearly 10 point per game? Yes Laker’s PPG is 93 vs. their opponents average of 91 PPG. But can the Lakers navigate through the Western Conference as a 6, 7 or 8 seed?

In my last article I talked about how lost the Lakers look when they transition from the triangle into a new system. Why didn’t management take notice of this?

It’s my understanding that Brian Shaw was overlooked because the Buss family wanted to separate itself from anything Phil Jackson. That’s understandable, I guess, though why not transition into something more similar, like Rick Adelman’s corner offense? Maybe then Troy Murphy wouldn’t be caught holding the ball for more than 10 seconds looking like a deer in headlights.

At this point Laker fans can only hope Kobe Bryant has enough power to do to Mike Brown what Magic Johnson did to Paul Westhead. But Laker fans shouldn’t get their hopes up, if history is any indication, it might take the era after Kobe Bryant for the Buss family to right the wrongs done this past offseason.