The Los Angeles Lakers suffered their worst loss of the season Monday night, and head coach Byron Scott was understandably disgusted after the game.
The Utah Jazz pummeled the Lakers by a score of 123-75. The 48-point loss is now tied for the biggest blowout in franchise history, a mark that was set against the Los Angeles Clippers in 2014. It was just the sixth time in franchise history the Lakers have lost by 40 or more points.
“Every game that you play in, there’s something to play for. And pride might be the biggest thing,” Scott said, via Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News. “You have to show this organization that you deserve to be here and you understand what wearing that purple and gold is all about. I don’t think a lot of guys in that locker room understand that right now.”
Kobe Bryant had another horrible game, but that didn’t stop Scott from showering more praise on him. Bryant shot 1-of-11 from the field but was tasked with shadowing Rodney Hood after the Jazz guard hit eight 3-pointers.
“It’s a damn shame our oldest player has to take the challenge,” Scott said. “It says a lot about him obviously and what he’s done all his life. But nobody else wanted to step up and take that challenge.”
Bryant did not seem at all surprised by how badly the Lakers were beaten.
“Losing by 48 and winning 15 games in the season, it’s not like it’s something new for us,” he said. “We’ve been getting drubbed all season.”
In ripping his team, Scott wanted to also make it clear that he doesn’t have confidence in any of the Lakers’ younger players filling the void left by Kobe after the season.
“I don’t look at any of those guys as being our next Kobe,” Scott said. “They can be a piece of it or part of it. But not to get to that level that he has gotten to.”
Scott has berated his team all season long, but they have very rarely responded to the criticism by playing with more passion. He has been particularly hard on the player Lakers fans are hoping will be their superstar of the future. While L.A.’s struggles can’t be blamed solely on Scott, it doesn’t seem like he is having a positive influence on the team.
