Lakers' Brown Accepts Responsibility

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">They all heard how Kwame Brown blamed others for his shortcomings when he played for the Washington Wizards. They all read the stories about how Brown refused to be accountable.

This season, Lakers assistant coach Brian Shaw noticed those tendencies in Brown.

Shaw and the rest of the Lakers coaching staff had to put a stop to it.

Now, four months later, Brown finally seems to be willing to accept responsibility.

Shaw listened to Brown say things like "My arms hurts," when he dropped a pass, or "He didn't pass the ball right."

Shaw grew tired of it.

"At one point I said to him, 'It was everybody's fault in Washington,' " Shaw said. " 'Now you're here, and this is a fresh start for you. Nobody knows you here. We know that it's going to be a process, and we're willing to be patient. But you can't keep saying it's his fault. That's the same thing you said in Washington. So now, you've got to look in the mirror at some point and say, 'It's me.' "

The message didn't easily register with Brown, Shaw said. But Shaw wouldn't give up. He stayed on Brown, working with the power forward on his moves and on his psyche.

Brown's progress has been noticeable in the way he has played in the Western Conference best-of-seven first-round playoff series against the Phoenix Suns. The Suns and Lakers are tied at 1-1 with Game 3 tonight at Staples Center.

Brown is willing to listen to Shaw.

"Brian is the guy who explains it all to me," Brown said. "He gives it to me straight, and he breaks it down and makes it plain, whether you like it or not. ... In the beginning, I might be a little mad or something. But then I listen because I know he has my best interest (in mind)."

Brown's poor attitude in Washington is what allowed the Lakers to acquire him last summer. He was suspended the last seven playoffs games last year with the Wizards after he claimed to have been ill but later said he wasn't.

Brown was upset with Wizards coach Eddie Jordan for not playing him and with teammate Gilbert Arenas. Brown said Arenas had told Jordan not to play him, which upset Brown so much that he said had he gone to practice, he would have hit Arenas.

Brown, drafted No.1 overall in 2001 out of Glyn Academy High in Georgia, was traded to the Lakers for Caron Butler and Chucky Atkins.

"I became an easy target, especially in that media market in Washington," Brown said. "Everybody was writing negative stuff. But I think I've grown a lot since last year because I've shown my maturity."

Brown started slowly with the Lakers and even was booed by Lakers fans.

He was out of sorts playing at power forward.

But when center Chris Mihm went down with a severe sprained right ankle in March, Brown stepped in as the starting center in the last 18 regular-season games and averaged 12.4 points, on 60.7 percent shooting, and 8.5 rebounds.

He has become a focal part of the Lakers offense in the playoffs, averaging 13 points and 4.0 rebounds.

"I think he has a level of confidence that gives him the understanding of what he can and can't do in this game," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "I think he's playing within the groundwork of what he's capable of doing, which is really important." </div>

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Brian Shaw is the man, I hope he takes over as head coach when PJax retires.

 

Kwame Brown is playing great at center, but he needs to learn how to play PF in the Triangle. Center is the easiest position to learn, but PF requires more responsibility and a consistent jump shot.

The Lakers drafted Andrew Bynum with the intention of developing him as the starting Center.

Kwame Brown will have to improve his mid range jump shot this summer and also learn get comfortable with his spots in the Triangle a littler further away from the basket. His free throw shooting looks a lot better, so there's hope he can learn how to develop a nice touch.

I'm hoping Bynum makes huge strides during the offseason and becomes the starter during the second half of next season.

Just imagine the Lakers potentional if Bynum can produce the way Kwame is currently producing, and Kwame continues to get better while playing PF.