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Los Angeles Lakers: Why Luke Walton isn’t on the hot seat

By Jason Reed

PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 24: Head coach Luke Walton of the Los Angeles Lakers watches from the bench during the second half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena on October 24, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Lakers defeated the Suns 131-113. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 24: Head coach Luke Walton of the Los Angeles Lakers watches from the bench during the second half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena on October 24, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Lakers defeated the Suns 131-113. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

The Los Angeles Lakers have not looked great during the team’s 3-5 start to the season, which has some already putting head coach Luke Walton on the hot seat.

Even a win for the Los Angeles Lakers over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night was not enough to change the narrative in LA. The Lakers have underwhelmed thus far through nearly 10 percent of the NBA season and have started the season with a 3-5 record.

The start of the LeBron James-era was supposed to get off to a hot start. If anything, LeBron and this young core of guys were more likely to get off to a tremendously hot start and begin to hit some rough patches a third of the way into the season as the momentum and adrenaline from the new season wore off.

It has been the exact opposite as the Lakers are 3-5 in the first eight and were very close to being 2-6 with a loss to the Mavericks. Los Angeles narrowly escaped with a 114-113 win over Dallas, which continued to show the weaknesses of this team.

Due to the slow start and some questionable rotations and decisions, head coach Luke Walton has already been thrown on the hot seat by some people. And while the Lakers would not fire him this early, it wouldn’t be surprising if Walton was already getting internal pressure.

The expectations are clearly high in Los Angeles and LeBron James is not shy in letting the front office know if he does not like a head coach. However, that is not the case for Walton, who is not on the hot seat at all.

Walton certainly can find the hot seat if the Lakers continue to struggle for a long period of time. For now, here are three reasons why he is currently not on the hot seat.

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