The Lakers Give Mike Brown the Boot…Foul on the Play???

Over the weekend and only five games into the season, in what’s considered to be a shocking move, the Los Angeles Lakers gave their head coach, Mike Brown, the boot. With the team’s high expectations of success especially after rebuilding which included the addition of All-Stars Dwight Howard and Steve Nash, they’ve only managed to get off to a rough start with a 1-4 record thus far.

While it can be argued that the team wasn’t fully intact due to Howard’s lingering difficulties after having back surgery and Nash’s left fibula fracture, it looks as if all the blame will go on Brown. Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak cited two main reasons for Brown’s dismissal; won-loss record and lack of improvement. “After five games we weren’t seeing improvement and we made a decision. Maybe it would have changed…we didn’t want to wait five months and find out it wasn’t going to change,” said Kupchak.

This says a lot about their faith in Brown’s ability considering he’s only stacked $7 million of the $18 million contract he signed back in 2011.

To it all, in a statement, Brown said “I have great respect for the Buss family and the Lakers’ storied tradition and I thank them for the opportunity they afforded me. I have a deep appreciation for the coaches and players that I worked with this past year and I wish the organization nothing but success as they move forward.”

According to the team, Bernie Bickerstaff will serve as interim coach, but no announcement has been made as to who will officially replace Brown.

What do you think people? Justified or Foul on the Play??? Tell us what you think in the comments.