The optimism about the Lakers somehow making themselves relevant in the NBA's Western Conference has reached their head coach.
Byron Scott said he believes the 2015-16 Lakers are much more prepared to face the rigors of the 82-game regular season than last year's squad was, lakersnation.com reported, posting a tweet from Los Angeles Times reporter Mike Bresnahan.
How certain is Byron Scott that the Lakers will be better this season? "I'm pretty confident. I really am. We're way ahead of schedule."— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) September 30, 2015
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The team has added some intriguing pieces since last season in free agents Lou Williams, Roy Hibbert, Brandon Bass and Metta World Peace. The Lakers have first-round draft choices Julius Randle (2014) and D'Angelo Russell (2015), not to mention a healthy-again Kobe Bryant (for now).
Scott added that he felt this year's team already has shown more commitment, as tweeted by lakersnation.com reporter Serena Winters.
Byron Scott says there wasn't one guy who did not come prepared for training camp (in other words, no one threw up today)— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) September 30, 2015
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Former Laker Wes Matthews, who signed with the Clippers as a free agent over the summer, criticized his former team after a training camp practice, the Orange County Register reported.
"The Lakers had a me-first attitude last season and, apparently, no one in the organization looking to correct their behavior. You would go out there and want to play the right way, but everyone wanted to prove themselves," Johnson told The Orange County Register. "So nobody really knew what was going on. Nobody ever knew, so it was hard for anyone to come in and get into a good rhythm or flow. Nobody was playing together."
The Lakers finished 21-61 last season, their worst year in franchise history. Bryant played only 35 games after suffering a season-ending torn rotator cuff injury.
The additions of World Peace and Bass, along with Bryant's commitment that he wants to mentor Los Angeles' young core of players, could help Scott maintain control of the team as the season goes along.
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