Shootaround Report: Brown Firing is a Direct Message to the Players

A couple hours after the firing of coach Mike Brown, the Lakers partook in their standard shootaround to prepare for tonight’s game against the Golden State Warriors. For the first time this season, assistant coach Bernie Bickerstaff, who gave Brown his first job as a Denver Nugget intern, ran the pre-game ritual. Reporters talked to Pau Gasol about the decision to relieve Mike Brown, and according to Mark Medina of the L.A. Daily News, the players never lost faith.

Pau Gasol maintained that the players never lost belief in Mike Brown’s philosophies

— Mark Medina (@MedinaLakersNBA) November 9, 2012

Pau Gasol even mentioned that he was “surprised” by the firing, and most notably, that it sends a “direct message” to the entire team to step it up.

Pau Gasol said he was “surprised” about Mike Brown’s firing. Believes front office sent a “direct message” about team’s poor play

— Mark Medina (@MedinaLakersNBA) November 9, 2012

Finally, Gasol stressed that the Lakers are built to win and their shaky start did not reflect that.

Pau “Mitch told us decision was made. Didn’t have good start & this team is built to win & thats what we are here to do”

— Beto Duran (@DuranSports) November 9, 2012

At 1-4, the Lakers are off to the worst start in the Western conference, despite carrying the league’s largest payroll. Lakers will take on the Golden State Warriors tonight at home with Bernie Bickerstaff as the interim head coach.

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Video: Check out Dwight Howard talking about his frustrations at yesterday today.

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