One of the main things that Lakers brass looked for in the new coach was to be a coach that would emphasize on the defensive side. Even Kobe Bryant has admitted that defense wins championships. That can only mean that “Showtime” will be back in LA next season, just that this time it will be a “Defensive Showtime.”
Mike Brown may not have been the best coach available, but contrary to what many people think, he was the best fit for the Lakers.
Brown’s reputation is about being a defensive-minded coach. Before he become a head coach in 2005, he developed his craft as an assistant under two coaches who know a thing or two about coaching and who have both been Coach of the Year, Gregg Popovich in San Antonio from 2000 to 2003 and Rick Carlisle at Indiana from 2003 to 2005.
After he became the Cleveland Cavaliers head coach on the 2005-06 season, the Cavs were consistently on the top 10 defensive teams, including leading the league on the 2008-09 season on both points-per-game and opponents-field-goal percentage. He was named Coach of the Year that very same season.
A lot of things can be argued about his handling of LeBron James, and his offensive schemes—which King James destroyed—and it's true Kobe Bryant could do the same thing. But, this is Brown’s second stint as a coach, and he has his “lessons learned.”—specifically with regards to knowing how-to-treat an elite player personality. Jerry Buss, his son Jim Buss ...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
