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L.A. Lakers fire head coach after 1-4 start
[Updated at 4:35 p.m. ET] The Los Angeles Lakers' 0-8 preseason and 1-4 start to the regular season were too much for the front office to take.
The NBA team on Friday fired second-year head coach Mike Brown, whose efforts to implement a new offense and mesh free-agent signings with stars who won a title two years ago didn't turn into wins.
"Really, it came down to ownership and management looking at the record, looking at the improvement level, and wondering a month or two or three down the road, will we be in the same spot," General Manager Mitch Kupchak told reporters.
Assistant Coach Bernie Bickerstaff will be interim head coach for Friday night's game against the Golden State Warriors, the Lakers said.
The Lakers, just two years removed from an NBA championship, are loaded with high-profile talent with the likes of all-stars Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, as well as new additions Steve Nash, a former league MVP, and former Orlando Magic star Dwight Howard.
But Nash has missed most of the season's early games with an injury, and the Lakers struggled with a complex new offense Brown was implementing.
"I never thought we got to the point where the offense was flowing," Kupchak said. "You could see flashes of it, but we never got to a point (where it was consistent through a game)."
A reporter asked Kupchak whether a desire to make Howard's first year a smooth one was a factor in the decision. The star center would be a free agent at season's end if he doesn't sign an extension.
“Obviously, we know he is a free agent this summer, and you want to make the experience for him as good as possible, but we have a lot of other people we need to (please) as well,” Kupchak said.
Kupchak said the team's management decided Thursday night to make the move, a days after the Lakers lost a 95-86 game at Utah.
Brown released a statement saying he had great respect for the family of Lakers owner Jerry Buss "and the Lakers’ storied tradition, and I thank them for the opportunity they afforded me."
"I have a deep appreciation for the coaches and players that I worked with this past year and I wish the organization nothing but success as they move forward,” Brown said.
Before taking the Lakers job in May 2011, Brown, 42, compiled a 272-138 regular-season record in five seasons as head coach with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
On Twitter
ISTSTFSCLBSH'SANA,FH.
The Lakers are a high-flying offence always been know for that. This guy wanted them to slow down and play college type basketball
Sports are no longer "sports"...it's BIG BU$INE$$.
You just starting to notice?
They need to turn the game into a man drama reality TV show where some one gets fired every month. We could even show the player living in a curb as a final act of humans losing their compassion for others!
This is unfortunate. I wish they had given him at least half the season to get on track. I suspect he will get picked really soon by another suffering team. To many egos in LA this year.
They should of waited Til mid-season...Oh we'll, he was too full of himself...Should of stayed with the Spurs a bit longer...huh Mike?
I agree that his time was cut too short. Everybody knows that a team has to have time to gel, especially a team like LA Lakers. With all those all-mighty egos, it was no wonder that Mike Brown could even get a word in. He was trying to execute his game plan, but the players have to buy into it. And it took them a while to do so. Now, you have a team with a new strategy that they are unsure how to run. Bernie and staff cant do it the job, either! I do hope that he is picked up real soon by another team. Maybe he'll return to the Spurs, or go over to the Clippers. Now that would be groovy.
STAN VAN GANDY!!!!!!!!!!
Go Grizzlies...!We`ll come out the west on top..
i for one hope the lakers never win another game. i think what they did to mike was wrong. i bet he was suprise that he got fired. not the coach. its the players that has to bye into the system. and put it on the floor. the lakers are nothing but a bunch of crybaby'ies.its not going to matter who is coaching them. THEY STILL SUCK!
With that much talent and that type of production it was unexceptable.
Only surprise is that it didn't happen sooner
I was more surprised when the Lakers picked him up. He couldn't seem to reel in the talent the Cavs had to bring it home either. He has worked with talented players so when you can never get it going, he is the common denominator.
OH NOOO!
First the Yankees, and now the Lakers! Where is the fairness in this world when such humble and likable organizations have such tragedy befall them?!? Do not ask for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee. 😦
Finally!!
The Over-the-Hill Gang aka The Fakers aka The Slackers actually won last night 101-77. But it was against the WARRIORS ( aka The Sorriers) ha ha ha. Enjoy your 2nd win Fakers-hope you go 2-80 ha ha ha
Finally!!!!! I am glad The Lakersf fired Mike Brown.
Flash,
You need to go back to school 🙂 😦 Please do not kill the English language.