For the first time since the opening month of the 2014/15 season, the Los Angeles Lakers and all their fans are on the same page. The Lakers are locked into their NBA draft lottery position with the fourth worst record in the NBA and rooting for the team to lose no longer makes sense.
As odd as it may sound, fans of the team finally get to celebrate victories.
"Yay," Lakers coach Byron Scott said sarcastically on Sunday morning, when asked about having all fans back on board. The coach laughed and added, "It feels good."
In the past, Scott publicly stated that having fans of the team wishing for losses bothered him. However, the coach seemed relieved that he was no longer at odds with fans for simply trying to help his beloved purple and gold win games.
"It was a little awkward," Scott admitted. "True Laker fans, I understand. I do understand what they were trying to say as far 'lose games and try to get the very best pick,' but they have to understand that not only myself and my staff, but the players, are professionals."
The coach has maintained numerous times that being a competitor his entire life means he cannot bring himself to try and lose games. He may be able to appreciate what fans are saying, but personally, he could not get behind that train of thought.
"You don't go out to intentionally lose games," Scott said, speaking for himself, his staff and his players. "You try to win. That's what you do. That's in your nature."
While seemingly forgiving the fans for their hopes of failure and defeat, the coach made it clear that he could not be on board with "tanking."
"I understand a lot of the fans and where they were getting that," Scott said. "I don't agree with it at all, but I do understand."
One of the most outspoken fans on "Team Tank" was Scott's close friend and former teammate, Earvin "Magic" Johnson. When asked if he and Johnson could get along again, Scott said the "awkward" situation had not affected his relationship with Johnson.
"Me and (Johnson) are always going to break bread no matter what. We don't have to agree about everything, but we're always going to break bread. That's my boy."
Next, fans can cheer for their hometown Lakers to win against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday and twice against the Sacramento Kings, Monday and Wednesday.
