After a 1-4 start, Mike Brown is deservedly on the coaching hot seat in LA. Along with losing four of the first five games, the Lakers simply have not played good basketball on either end of the floor.
Although the sluggish offensive output can be blamed on injuries, the lack of defensive intensity is inexcusable. Never really a fan favorite, Brown is under more pressure than ever before.
After the loss in Utah, the Lakers now have a six-game home stand. To keep his job, Brown needs results now. Five of the six opponents visiting Staples Center over the next two weeks were not playoff teams last season.
Another stretch of ugly losses to non-contenders cannot go over well with the fan base or the Lakers front office. The expectations involve at least a split during this home stand.
Brown was brought in as a defensive specialist, and the Lakers' defense has been nightmarishly poor to this point. Ignoring the game against Detroit because the Pistons were effectively a D-League team, the Lakers have allowed 103.75 points per game.
Considering the Lakers have only topped 100 points once in those four losses, it doesn't take a math major to figure out how the Lakers are losing these games. The Lakers are averaging 94.5 points per game in their four defeats.
The problems are everywhere -- both ends of the court, the free throw line and turnovers.
When the problems start to stack up, the problem is on the side lines. If he doesn’t start winning soon, Brown might be one problem the Lakers fans won't have to worry about any longer.
