Byron Scott promised improvements next season but the veteran coach said in a Los Angeles Lakers news and rumors update that fans should be patient next season.
The Lakers had one of the worst seasons in franchise history after finishing with a 27-55 record last season and missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2004-05 season.
Scott, who replaced unpopular coach Mike D'Antoni after the offensive-minded mentor stepped down from his post, said that the Lakers will be a better team, but is asking for patience and strong support from their fans.
"Scott has said on numerous occasions that he believes the Lakers can turn things around quickly, though he has refused to put a time frame on anything. Even still, he is right to stress patience from the fans, who are in an unfamiliar," Corey Hanford wrote in Lakers news and rumors update.
Kobe Bryant, who will be playing in his 19th season in the league, is expected to play a big role for the Lakers, and the 36-year-old guard also vowed to help their fans forget the bitter memory of their performance last year.
However, Bryant's health is a huge question mark at this point after playing in just six games last season. The 16-time All-Star sustained a knee injury just as when he is slowly getting into his rhythm following an Achilles tendon surgery.
The Lakers failed to convince superstars LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony to move to Los Angeles, but they made several moves, including acquiring free agents Carlos Boozer and Ed Davis and trading for Jeremy Lin. They also drafted former Kentucky standout Julius Randle in the 2014 NBA Draft.
But while they had key acquisitions this offseason, NBA analyst Lang Greene said in a Lakers news and rumors discussion that Los Angeles is no longer one of the elite teams in the league because of several question marks about their future.
"The Los Angeles Lakers are no longer among the league's elite and will head to training camp with plenty of question marks," Greene said. "Can Kobe Bryant regain his form and play at a high level after numerous injuries? How much does point guard Steve Nash have left in the tank in what may possibly be his final season as a professional? Is rookie forward Julius Randle ready to play a significant role right out of the cereal box?"
