Lakers’ Byron Scott declines to address Don MacLean’s criticisms

Lakers head coach Byron Scott, left, said he and general manager Mitch Kupchak have discussed how to develop the team's young players such as guard D'Angelo Russell, right. (Photo by John McCoy/Staff)

Lakers head coach Byron Scott, left, said he and general manager Mitch Kupchak have discussed how to develop the team’s young players such as guard D’Angelo Russell, right. (Photo by John McCoy/Staff)

It took nearly 10 minutes for Clippers analyst and former UCLA standout Don MacLean to question everything surrounding Lakers coach Byron Scott. MacLean criticized how Scott has developed rookie point guard D’Angelo Russell. MacLean questioned Scott’s offensive schemes. MacLean argued Scott has not tapped into Nick Young’s scoring potential. MacLean also took offense to Scott’s barb following Monday’s practice that MacLean’s criticisms about not giving Russell enough opportunity explains why he is not coaching.

“Just because you’re not a coach doesn’t mean you don’t know the game,” MacLean said Monday on the “The Petros and Money Show” on 570-AM, bringing up that he also trained Russell leading up to pre-draft workouts. “That’s what kind of set me off. That’s why I’m not coaching? No, I chose not to coach, and again, just because you choose to coach doesn’t mean you’re a good coach.”

It took nearly five seconds for Scott to dismiss MacLean criticizing him on the air.

“Who,” Scott said following morning shootaround on Tuesday when MacLean’s name was brought up.

MacLean’s critiques were then relayed to Scott.

“I make nothing of it,” Scott said. “Like I said, who?”

Scott spoke more in depth on Monday defending on how he has used Russell, who has averaged 11.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 26.9 minutes per game. Scott also said he had initially thought of assigning Russell a bench role once the 2015-16 season started instead of yanking his starting role 20 games into the season.

“First of all to Don, that’s why you’re not coaching,” Scott said following Monday’s practice. “You don’t let a guy go out there and just almost embarrass himself or kill himself by playing 35 minutes and creating 10, 12, 15 turnovers. The one thing it can do is self-destruct him.”


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