"These guys got to get used to each other," Los Angeles Lakers coach Byron Scott said Monday's practice felt a bit like starting over. "I've got two units that have to get used to playing together and playing with each other, so today's practice was going over a lot of little things that we've been doing, and then, having them play, so they can get used to each other."
Scott opted to shuffle the Lakers' starting lineup following an unconscionably poor start where LA dropped 15 of its first 20 games. In Sunday's one-sided loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, the changes did not yield immediate results, but the Lakers had yet to even hold a practice under the new setup. On Monday, the Lakers attempted to mesh the new lineup that should be in place for at least another 10 to 15 games.
"I don't massage egos," Scott said he didn't believe he needed to work on players' feelings. "You know, if you're 5-15 at that time, from a coaching standpoint, you have to make some type of changes. You don't want it to keep going the same way."
Scott said Jeremy Lin came to him to discuss the change, and the coach had a discussion where he thought Lin handled the news with maturity. Carlos Boozer, who was the other player dropped from the starting lineup, confirmed that he had not held any dialogue on the subject.
Boozer, who had not yet spoken to the media following the change, opted to make reporters wait on the Lakers' practice court for somewhere between half an hour and a full hour after everyone else was done. Then, Boozer appeared for a combative two-minute interview on the subject of being demoted.
"Obviously, it was a surprise. I didn't expect that," Boozer said about being removed from the starting lineup on Sunday. "I was sick, so I missed shootaround to take antibiotics, meet with doctors, so I found out right when I got to the arena around 3:30 (p.m.)."
Boozer said the subject had not been approached since, but the veteran forward was on board with the team concept. Earlier, Scott cited defense as an area that needed improvement for Boozer when making the change, and the Lakers' backup big man was asked about what he made of the coach's comments about his defense playing a factor.
"That's just his opinion," Boozer responded somewhat childishly before being asked what his opinion was. "I have a different opinion. I keep it to myself."
Boozer made it clear that he held disagreements but managed not to share details of those conflicts publicly. Boozer came off sounding spoiled and bashful, especially considering he made reporters hang around for the better part of an hour to provide them with short answers.
Asked about a discussion he had with Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak at the end of practice, Boozer again offered a slightly pompous response: "It's just me and Mitch talking. That's not for you guys. That's for us."
With that, the frustrated forward ended his interview and wrapped up Monday's Lakers practice.
Next, the Lakers take the floor on Tuesday night against the Sacramento Kings.
