Lakers' Scott wants team to treat 5th game like a Game 7
Apparently, the Los Angeles Lakers have struggled to an 0-4 start because they're not playing with enough urgency.
Ahead of the Lakers' matchup Tuesday with the Phoenix Suns, who pasted L.A. by 20 last week, coach Byron Scott is calling on his charges to turn up the intensity.
Byron Scott says they have to play like it’s “Game 7” tonight. This is their fifth game of the season. #Lakers
— Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) November 5, 2014
It's an 82-game season, one that may see the Lakers win just 20 games, so it's probably best for everyone's sanity if they do not treat every outing like a Game 7. Getting off the schneid would be great, but the team may want to be realistic about their lot in life.
Scott should instead look inside himself for means of improvement. He's been adamant about not wanting the Lakers to shoot threes, but being 28th in 3-point attempts and 29th in makes has hindered an offense that rebounds well offensively.
He's also preached focus on defense without much in the way of a tangible scheme, and the Lakers are by far the league's worst defensive unit.
When a team is getting outscored by 19.6 points per 100 possessions, it might not be an effort issue. But hey, give it your all, kids.