Despite leading the Lakers to a 41-25 record in the strike-shortened last season, finishing first in the Pacific Division and a three seed in the Western Conference, many still have questioned whether Brown is the right coach to lead L.A. to a championship.
Some even speculate that Brown should be replaced midseason if the Lakers don't live up to their lofty expectations to start the 2012-2013 season.
With even more talent on the Lakers roster this season than Brown has ever had to coach, anything less than a championship would be viewed as a disappointment in Los Angeles.
If the Lakers stumble out of the gates, chatter regarding whether Brown should be immediately replaced will heat up, similar to the way Pat Riley replaced Stan Van Gundy in 2005-06 and led the Miami Heat to the NBA championship. Brown could suffer much the same fate if the Lakers don't hit the ground running to begin the season.
Brown signed a 4-year, $18 million contract in 2011 to coach L.A., succeeding the legendary Phil Jackson as the 22nd head coach in Lakers history. At the time, Brown's more blue-collar demeanor seemed far from the type of personality needed to lead one of the most glamorous franchises in professional sports.
Fans and analysts alike instantly began predicting Brown's demise and calling for a more high-profile big-name coach, completely ignoring the fact that Mike Brown has one of the highest career winning percentages in NBA history during his five seasons as coach of the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavs (272-138 for a .663 winning percentage).
Brown's primary area of expertise is defense, which clashes with the high-scoring, exciting offenses that Lakers fans have become accustomed to over the last few decades.
The Lakers have brought in Steve Nash to help jump-start a Lakers team that ranked 1...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
