Lakers coach Byron Scott is pondering some rotation changes, though he may wait a few more games to see if things improve, according to Lakers.com’s Joey Ramirez. Scott wouldn’t say whether changes to playing time would affect the starters or bench, though he’s already tinkered with the second unit. Guards D’Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson, power forward Julius Randle and center Roy Hibbert have started every game, as has small forward Kobe Bryant when Scott hasn’t given him the night off. “I would love to play the same type of rotation and get productivity from both [units],” Scott said to the assembled media after practice. “But that’s not happening on a consistent basis. And then when it doesn’t, you have to make changes.” But Scott also preached patience, adding he wants “to give it a few more games” before he makes any moves.
In other news regarding the club:
- Scott has no plans to bench Bryant, ESPN.com’s Baxter Holmes reports. “I would never, never, never do that,” Scott told the media after practice on Friday. “That’s not an option whatsoever. No, that’s not an option.” Bryant is shooting a career-low 31.1% and ESPN’s Real Plus-Minus Ratings place Bryant 379th in the NBA and 73rd for small forwards.
- A willingness to chase rebounds and accept a limited offensive role has earned Larry Nance Jr. a rotation spot in his rookie season, NBA.com’s Scott Howard-Cooper writes. Nance has the maturity to carry out his role, which has endeared him to Scott, as he told Howard-Cooper. “He doesn’t go outside that box,” Scott said. “He sticks within himself. But he plays hard. That’s the thing I love about Larry.”
- The team assigned rookie small forward Anthony Brown to the D-League, the D-Fenders announced via Twitter. Brown, a second-round pick out of Stanford, has played nine minutes over three games with the Lakers.