The Los Angeles Lakers may be the worst team in the NBA this season as they have lost 10 of their last 11 games including one to the previously winless Philadelphia 76ers. Because they are so bad you would think head coach Byron Scott would want to get his young players more playing time so that they are more prepared when the team is competitive in the future but he seems to be going in the opposite direction. On Monday night both D'Angelo Russell and Julius Randle came off the bench for the Lakers and it seems as though they will continue to do so, according to Baxter Holmes of ESPN.
The Lakers lost on Monday night to the Toronto Raptors and in that game Randle and Russell played just 21 minutes each while Lou Williams and Larry Nance Jr. took their places in the starting lineup. Scott said he believes that he will continue to bring Randle and Russell off the bench for "the foreseeable future" and will hopefully play them about 20-25 minutes a game in an effort to ease them into their NBA careers.
Lakers fans have been unhappy with Scott all season for the way he has handled Russell and his minutes as he regularly has sat him in the fourth quarter of tight games but this is taking it to another level. Randle and Russell might be the two most talented players on the roster and are two huge pieces for the Lakers future so this move by Scott is a little curious to say the least.
In fairness, Russell has struggled a little bit this season as he is barely shooting over 40 percent from the field but with Randle the decision is more befuddling as he has arguably been the Lakers best player this season. Randle is averaging 11.8 points and 9.3 rebounds per game so far this and racked up a double-double in his first game off the bench.
It would be one thing if Scott was moving Russell and Randle to the bench to change up the lineups due to the fact that what they were doing hasn't been working but to limit the minutes to around 20 a game is where it gets a little crazy. Yes Scott's job is to win as many games as possible and he is trying to do whatever he can to scratch out as may wins as his roster will give him but in the process he might be stunting his young players growth and although the organization has said he is not on the hot seat moves like this have infuriated the fan base and may make them re-consider their current stance.
