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Lakers kick off post-Brown era with stylish win
Source: Agencies |
November 11, 2012, Sunday
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THE Los Angeles Lakers responded to the axing of coach Mike Brown by belting the Golden State Warriors 101-77 at the Staples Center on Friday for their second win of the season.
After a close first quarter, the Lakers went on a tear with Kobe Bryant scoring 27 points, much to the delight of the crowd.
Having fired Brown earlier in the day after starting the season 1-4 and losing all eight preseason exhibition games, the Lakers displayed new vigor and style under interim coach Bernie Bickerstaff.
The home fans, however, made no secret of who they wanted to fill the vacant position, chanting, "We want Phil" throughout the night in reference to former coach Phil Jackson who helped the Lakers to five of their 16 championships.
Bryant claimed the side still used a little of the "Princeton" style offense Brown was trying to implement in the side before his dismissal but admitted instinctual play was the real help. "We just had to focus on our execution. It was about coming out and playing hard," he said.
Brown, who previously coached the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James, was in the second year of a four-year, US$18 million deal, of which the final year was not fully guaranteed.
He became the first NBA coach fired after five or fewer games of a season since Dolph Schayes of the Buffalo Braves resigned after one game of the 1971-72 season, ESPN reported.
The move came less than 48 hours after Lakers owner Jim Buss gave Brown a vote of confidence. "I have great respect for the Buss family and the Lakers' storied tradition and I thank them for the opportunity they afforded me," Brown said in a statement.
After a close first quarter, the Lakers went on a tear with Kobe Bryant scoring 27 points, much to the delight of the crowd.
Having fired Brown earlier in the day after starting the season 1-4 and losing all eight preseason exhibition games, the Lakers displayed new vigor and style under interim coach Bernie Bickerstaff.
The home fans, however, made no secret of who they wanted to fill the vacant position, chanting, "We want Phil" throughout the night in reference to former coach Phil Jackson who helped the Lakers to five of their 16 championships.
Bryant claimed the side still used a little of the "Princeton" style offense Brown was trying to implement in the side before his dismissal but admitted instinctual play was the real help. "We just had to focus on our execution. It was about coming out and playing hard," he said.
Brown, who previously coached the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James, was in the second year of a four-year, US$18 million deal, of which the final year was not fully guaranteed.
He became the first NBA coach fired after five or fewer games of a season since Dolph Schayes of the Buffalo Braves resigned after one game of the 1971-72 season, ESPN reported.
The move came less than 48 hours after Lakers owner Jim Buss gave Brown a vote of confidence. "I have great respect for the Buss family and the Lakers' storied tradition and I thank them for the opportunity they afforded me," Brown said in a statement.
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