Source: Lakers to Cut ‘External Chatter’
The Lakers cancelled practice Thursday following back-to-back losses to Detroit and Washington on their three-game road trip that ended with an 105-102 win over the Timberwolves on Friday. In place of practice, Lakers coach Mike Brown scheduled a film review at the team hotel and invited players and his coaching staff to speak their minds.
“It wasn’t an airing out session,” Brown said Saturday, downplaying its significance. “It was a film session.”
The session was mostly X’s and O’s based and run by Brown until he handed over the floor to his assistant coaches.
“I utilized my assistants a lot because I don’t like the players hearing my voice a lot,” Brown said. “I talked a lot. I said, ‘You know what? I’m going to have someone else talk.’ After two losses like that everybody’s feeling kind of down. So, I wanted to hear other guys’ voices.”
Players were invited to speak after Lakers assistant coaches John Kuester and Chuck Person left strong impressions. Part of the assistant coaches’ message was urging the players to curtail any “external chatter,” according to a source. When no player volunteered to speak up, Brown said he requested that “my three leaders” share their thoughts; first Pau Gasol, then Derek Fisher and finally Kobe Bryant.
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