10 Reasons Why Mike Brown Is the Least of the L.A. Lakers' Worries

Mike Brown has been a marked man from the moment he replaced Phil Jackson, but in reality, the Los Angeles Lakers have more prominent issues than the standing of their head coach.

After a second consecutive early postseason exit, it has become clear the Lakers are hardly title contenders anymore.

Fingers are continuously pointed at Brown, yet there are much bigger factors at play to account for Los Angeles' steady demise.

So, while the Lakers' championship aspirations may be short on time, there is no shortage of blame for their recent struggles to go around. 

Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers will never match the rich history the Lakers have, but that doesn't mean they won't steal some of their thunder.

While the Lakers will always be Los Angeles' staple team, the Clippers have arguably become more exciting to watch. Blake Griffin and Chris Paul are two superstars in their prime with a penchant for cameos in a slew of highlight reels.

Do the Lakers have that type of appeal?

Not anymore. Kobe Bryant is still incredibly exciting to watch, but the Lakers aren't near as athletic as the Clippers, nor as young or explosive.

The Clippers are closing in on some—not all—of the Lakers territory. Subsequently, any issue with Mike Brown must be tabled in favor of regaining the unquestionable top dog status this organization once had.

Performance on the Road

The Lakers have become somewhat of a pushover on the road.

Los Angeles was just 15-18 on the road during the regular season, and at one point, lost 14 of 15 games away from home. The Lakers were also just 1-5 on the road during the playoffs.

When traveling, Los Angeles is down in almost every statistical category and when watching, it's clear the team has a tendency to become lethargic when the home crowd isn't present.

While the Lakers can displace the blame on Mike Brown all they want, they're expected to do their job, regardless of the stadium they play in, and regardless of the system they run.

Los Angeles should spend less time questioning Brown's tactics and more time accepting their role as basketball players, which entails displaying loyalty, fight, and composure, even when on the road.

Three Point Shooting

The Lakers were the sixth worst three point shooting team in the league this season, knocking down a paltry 32.6 percent of their attempts from beyond the arc.

Ramon Sessions—a perennial wildcard from downtown—proved to be Los Angeles' most deadly threat from deep upon his arrival, converting on 44.3 percent of his attempts.

Other players like Kobe Bryant (30.3 percent), Metta World Peace (29.6 percent) and even Matt Barnes (33.3 percent), though, simply didn't deliver.

When teams can hit the three-ball, it stretches defenses wafer thin, creating more opportunities to score in the paint as well, but the Lakers have not proven they can hit the outside shot consistently.

And short of Mike Brown shooting up and taking shots for his players, he cannot be held responsible for the open looks their caroming off the rim.

They Have No Point Guard

As of right now—with Ramon Sessions having opted out of his contract to test the free agent market—the Lakers' point guard hopes rest upon Steve Blake's shoulders.

Feeling good about that? Yeah, neither is Kobe Bryant.

Los Angeles has no cap room to sign a competent floor general and while it can offer Sessions an extension, it's still unknown if he has what it takes to lead this offense.

The Lakers, clad with Pau Gasol, could take to the trade market and attempt to find a solution, but is it prudent for them to deal a big for a smaller player? That's a quandary Los Angeles has been toiling with since the end of the lockout.

But yeah, the Mike Brown thing too.

Salary Cap

Last time I checked, the four-year contract worth approximately $18.25 million that Mike Brown signed last May doesn't count toward the Lakers salary cap.

But the contracts of Steve Blake, Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol and Metta World Peace do.

Currently—without offering Ramon Sessions an extension—the Lakers have over $75 million in payroll slated for next season.

I know what you're thinking—holy luxury tax.

Before Los Angeles starts worrying about Mike Brown—who by the way, helped lead the team to the third best record in the Western Conference—it should consider trimming the payroll that actually affects the ability to improve the roster. 

Andrew Bynum Continues to Be a Tease

Andrew Bynum has gone to great lengths to reverse his callow persona. Sort of.

While Bynum has improved as a player, his commitment to consistency remains questionable at best. His perception of how to act in specific situations is uncannily off for a player who just finished up his seventh year in the league.

The center deserves credit for his All-Star performance this season, but to consider him a capable pillar to build a team around is a stretch. His transgressions go overlooked more and more as the pool of competent centers continues to thin out.

Life after Kobe Bryant is rapidly approaching, and the Lakers must be concerned with their supposed on-court leader of the future.

More so than Mike Brown, who continues to demand nothing but the best from Bynum.

Kobe Bryant Isn't Kobe Bryant Anymore

I will never discredit what Kobe Bryant has done, nor will I attempt to disprove what he continues to do, but he's not the same player he was three years ago.

Age has forced Bryant out of the paint and on to the perimeter, where he continues to score. And while he's never been considered efficient by any means, he's reached a whole new level of volume shooting over the past year.

Bryant shot 43.0 percent from the field this season, his worst posting since the 1997-98 campaign, and on the verge of turning 34, there's no reason to believe it's going to get any better.

Age is going to catch up with him eventually, with or without Mike Brown on the sidelines.

Lack of Depth

When it comes to depth, the Lakers are severely lacking.

Though Los Angeles' starting lineup from this past season was arguably one of the best in the league, it essentially has no bench. 

Players like Matt Barnes, Steve Blake, Devin Ebanks and Jordan Hill, as a collective, are simply not prolific enough to hold ground while the starters rest.

To put it in an even bleaker perspective, Blake was the leading scorer off the Lakers bench, with an average of 6.3 points per game. That's absurd.

You cannot contend for a title—let alone win one—without at least one substantial talent coming off the bench. 

The Lakers have none, so perhaps they should worry about providing Mike Brown with a slightly more polished rotation before they call for his head.

Championship Appeal

The Lakers are no longer a championship powerhouse that stars want to flock to—just ask Dwight Howard.

Howard's refusal to sign an extension with Los Angeles was a wake-up call.This team can longer entice prospective players with its ability to win a title. Their core is aging, leaving them to push market appeal, which simply isn't enough on its own.

As the Lakers continue their free fall from grace, this sense of uncertainty regarding their reputation and future will only become more prevalent.

And as long as the Lakers continue to remain pat, this is something Mike Brown can simply not control.

Pau Gasol

Pau Gasol is the most pressing conflict facing the Lakers right now.

After two consecutive lackluster postseason displays, Gasol appears to be the odd man out in Los Angeles. But what are they supposed to do with him?

Gasol is owed more $38 million over the next two seasons, and after his most recent of underwhelming performances, expecting to receive a bona fide star in return for his services is a stretch.

And yet, if the Lakers fail to find a home for Gasol by the start of next season, his standing with the team will undoubtedly become a detrimental distraction.

While it's Mike Brown's responsibility to weather any storm that comes Los Angeles' way, coaching through a potential soap opera of this caliber isn't feasible.

Harping on Brown while the Gasol saga is still going strong is more than useless.

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