The Lakers and the Magic: Coaches or the players?

WEB DESK: Following a devastating 41-point loss to the Miami Heat on Wednesday, head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, JJ Redick, stated that the ownership for the loss fell on him. But, while the Lakers have been struggling, the Orlando Magic have been flourishing since Franz Wagner became more comfortable as the team’s first option. So, considering both teams experiences, does the credit for winning and the responsibility for losing, fall on the coaches or those on the court?

The Lakers have been faltering as of late. On Tuesday they lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves, in what was their biggest point discrepancy of the season, falling short by 29. However, that beat-down paled in comparison to what the Miami Heat did on Wednesday, beating Los Angeles by 41 points.

Following the abysmal performance, JJ Redick sat down for a post-game press conference. “It’s embarrassing, I’m embarrassed, were embarrassed,” he said, before delving into who’s to blame. “There needs to be some ownership,” Redick said. And he explained that that burden fell on him, but in the midst of taking the blame, he didn’t fail to mention the players on the court.

“I can’t physically get us organised, I can’t physically be into the basketball,” he said, concluding that while he “own’s this,” there needs to be “some ownership on the court as well.” While the Lakers have been faltering as of late, losing six of their last eight games, there’s been another team that has recovered from a rough patch early in the season. And it’s the same team that started the Lakers’ troubles in late November.

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THE ORLANDO MAGIC

Including their win over the Lakers on November 22, the Magic have won seven of their last eight games, putting them at third in the Eastern Conference. It’s been an incredible comeback for Orlando since their star player, Paulo Banchero, had been side-lined on October 30 with a torn oblique. Orlando struggled immediately after Banchero fell to the wayside, losing their first four games without their star. But since then, they have been dominating, which Shaquille O’Neil believes is largely due to Franz Wagner, who has been averaging over 25 points per game since Bacnhero’s departure.

But, Charles Barkley had a slightly different opinion, which he shared on Inside the NBA. “Coach Mosley’s doing a fabulous job,” said Barkley, to which Shaq responded with a disgruntled grunt, before the four-time NBA champion expressed his belief that its more about the players. “There’s a difference between being the man and playing next to the man” said Shaq as he explained that since Wagner has become the first option, he’s gotten more shot opportunities and thus been able to display his pedigree.

“It has nothing to do with coaching,” announced Shaq, who was immediately cut off by a flabbergasted Barkley. “Of course, it has something to do with coaching.” The disagreement spawned an argument that mirrors the questions being asked by Lakers fans right now. Who is worthy of the praise and the blame, the success and the failure? Is it the coaches or the players?

Kenny Smith offered his two cents, by using Shaq’s late teammate, Kobe Bryant, as an example. While Kobe possessed a diverse range of offensive skills making him a threat at all times, if he were side-lined, the next guy up may not have the same level of offensive ability. This results in a need for good coaching to make up for what the team now lacks. But, Shaq held strong to his obstinate stance, using his four rings as proof of his point. However, Smith took it as evidence of the opposite.

“You had Phil Jackson bro,” said Smith.

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COACHES OR THE PLAYERS?

Kenny Smith made a fantastic point after reminding Shaq that he played under one of the greatest coaches ever. The two-time NBA champion stated that while there were great players in the league, around which an offense can be built, the rest need to adapt to a system.

“Most players are not great players,” Barkley said, expounding on Smith’s point. The structure that these players need is provided by the coaches. The coaches establish the system they play under and the culture they most adopt in order to thrive. Not everyone is an indomitable force that can succeed no matter the conditions. And even some who are may still struggle under a faltering system.

“Does he believe in what he’s doing?” said three-time NBA champion James Worthy on Access Sportsnet, referring to the Lakers star-player Anthony Davis, following Los Angeles’ blowout loss against the Heat. Davis, who was having an MVP level season early on, has scored less than 20 points in five of his last seven games. He only scored eight points against the Heat.

“He’s missing that fire,” said Worthy’s co-host Robert Horry. While Shaq and players like him may have never needed a coach to instil confidence in them, other NBA athletes might. What Davis may need is a coach that can bring out his true capabilities. He may need a coach that can create a system under which he can perform consistently.

Or maybe that responsibility falls to Davis himself. Maybe, the reason the Lakers were crushed on Wednesday wasn’t Redick’s fault. Maybe, it was Tyler Herro’s dominance as he hit nine shots from beyond the arc. Then again, had the Lakers had better communication on the defensive end, a responsibility that likely falls on the coach, they may have contested more threes and in turn stopped a few more.

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