How I'd Run the Lakers

How I'd Run The Lakers
also: NBA Exec of the Year

The race is over. There is no need to vote. Sports writers everywhere can save the ink or blank stares at a computer screen. The box has been checked for them: GM of the Year, 2012-2013, Mitch Kupchak.

Executive of the Year: executive vice president of player personnel Jim Buss.

It doesn't take balls to fire your head coach five games into the season, it takes brains. Anyone with a lone eyeball could tell that Mike Brown was a terrible fit for the Lakers. I, for one, am surprised he was ever hired in the first place. LA is simply the wrong town for Brown, who couldn't even effectively handle the spotlight Lebron carried with him to Cleveland before he famously took his size power athleticism talents to South Beach. But, handling the stars and the spotlight is one thing... and a hard to quantify "thing" at that. Brown's failure was a basketball one, both in scheme and rotation. Many analysts, commentators, and other professionals have said as much, but I will take it a step further. I won't just critique Mike Brown, I'll offer suggestions as to what I'd have done differently.

I'll admit, when I first considered developing an offensive game plan for the Lakers, I thought it would be simple. In the frontcourt, you've got the league's best "true" center paired with one of the greatest finesse big men of all time. In the backcourt, you have one of the greatest scorers of all time paired with Mr. Floor General, Steve Nash. Simple. Just give one of them the basketball and watch it work.

Then I thought about actually diagramming a play. Where does Dwight go so he doesn't eat up the lane for Kobe or Nash? What about Kobe? How does he do without the ball in his hands? And Gasol? How do he and Dwight share post looks? Does Pau just become a rich man's Bill Wennington?

The problem became a tangled mess in my mind... and I hadn't even recalled the need to include Metta World Peace.

Let's call it a moment of clarity, but then it came to me simply. Here's your base offense for the 2012-2013 Lakers, Phil, or Mike, or whatever coach Jim and Mitch bring in... you're welcome.

Nash Brings the ball up and tries to find Gasol on the left block. Howard is at the right top of the key with Kobe at the right hash and Metta World Peace in the far corner. The first option is Gasol on the left block. If it isn't there, or we want a different look, Nash runs a high pick and roll with Howard at the top of the key while Kobe drifts more right. As Howard sets the pick, Gasol moves out to the left hash. As Nash drives off the screen, Metta World Peace waits in the corner or cuts baseline. If nothing is there, Nash maintains possession and resets or kicks it out to Kobe.

The same set can be run with 1) Kobe on the left block, Gasol/Howard at high post, Metta World Peace at right Hash, Gasol/Howard in right corner. 2) Howard on block, Gasol at high post, Kobe in corner, Metta World Peace at Hash. It's versatile, it uses the strengths of the players involved, and can be run with an entirely different look by the second unit with Ebanks and shooters. It's mind-numbingly simple and obvious.

Yeah, I know, it's one damn play. Then again, so is the triangle system, essentially. So is the pick and roll, so is any iso.

Why couldn't Mike Brown figure this out? Why did he insist on using the Princeton offense with big, athletic super-stars?

That's why he deserved the firing. And he should forfeit the $11 million he's owed to save face.

Now, on to Exec of the Year...

All Mitch Kupchak did this offseason was bring in a (sorely needed) (hall of fame) point guard and the league's most irreplacable (big man) (player) center. He moved an injur(ed)y-prone Andrew Bynum to make way for Howard. Those two moves alone were enough to win him the award, but when you add on his ability and willingness to let go of an obvious square peg in a round hole and then (perhaps) convince the great Zen Master himself to return like the NBA is some bad kung fu movie, you have an absolute master performance.

In some very overlooked moves, Kupchak also brought in Antawn Jamison to provide more veteran bench leadership and made, in my opinion, a very underrated draft choice that no one is talking about when he picked up Robert Sacre. Sacre is raw but huge and played well enough to make the Lakers 15-man regular season roster (instead of being relegated to the D-League). He needs to develop and may never do so, but what greater mentors than Howard and Gasol?

My hat is off to you, Mitch, and my playbook is open to all. Until D-Rose finishes up with #thereturn I think I need to find a yellow no. 24 jersey.