Lakers’ Byron Scott holds extended film session just on defense

"Los Angeles Lakers Head Coach Byron Scott studies the action in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2014, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Karen Pulfer Focht)"

“Los Angeles Lakers Head Coach Byron Scott studies the action in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2014, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Karen Pulfer Focht)”

ATLANTA — The Lakers’ worst start in franchise history has looked so abysmal through three weeks that they have already resorted to something most teams have during a moment of crisis.

They held a meeting.

Granted, Lakers coach Byron Scott stressed the dialogue took place in what he called “a normal film session.” But the circumstances changed. In normal cases, Scott said his film sessions entail reviewing both offensive and defensive plays. On Monday night, Scott held a film session he described as “long” that solely entailed the Lakers’ defense, which has averaged a league-worst 112 points per game.

“The question to the guys was, ‘Are we asking you to do things that are impossible for you to do,'” Scott recalled. “‘Or are there things you have to think about too much? Because we’ll try to simplify everything as much as possible.’ The answer they gave was no. It’s not impossible and not difficult. When you say that, I’m anxious to see how we play tonight.”

Then, the Lakers (1-9) will play the Atlanta Hawks (5-3) at Philips Arena and seek to end a four-game losing streak where they have allowed an average of 111.25 points per game. After the Lakers’ 136-115 loss Sunday to Golden State, Scott blistered his team’s defensive effort.

So much that he called out the team’s frontline and suggested he become more strict with playing time rotations if defensive miscues continue. Scott believes he has even more comfort to follow through on that threat considering the Lakers will add a player tonight in Nick Young, who stayed sidelined the past six weeks because of a surgically repaired right thumb.

“It’s still a short leash,” Scott said. “I’m not going to watch guys continue to make mistakes and watch things that we’re supposed to do. I think I’ve been patient and giving latitude that there is a learning curve. I still believe there is. But you have to start getting to the point where it’s 60-70-80 percent of the time instead of 20-30 percent time.”

Lakers forward Xavier Henry described the extended film session as “real constructive.”

“Everybody took it the right way,” Henry said. “No one got mad with what we talked about. Nobody took it personally. Everybody took it as we need to get better.”

Still, the Lakers did not address one issue that left the locker room divided following their loss on Sunday to Golden State.

Scott said he did not address to his team about Kobe Bryant’s high-volume shooting that has resulted in a league-leading 27.3 points per game average albeit on only 37.7 percent shooting. Lakers forward Carlos Boozer was among the most vocal in suggesting the Lakers needed to have better offensive balance. Meanwhile, Bryant justified his shot selection because of the team’s early struggles, but suggested he may change his approach.

“I’m not really concerned about that end of the floor,” Scott said. “We’re still averaging over 100 points per game. The problem is we’re giving up 110 almost. Which one do you want to be more concerned about? It’s not rocket science. We have to do a better job on the defensive end of the floor. We have to have our guys on the floor and have a sense of urgency to get it done.”

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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter and on Facebook. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com