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LOS ANGELES – Magic Johnson said Luke Walton will remain the Los Angeles Lakers' coach barring something drastic happen this season.
"Yeah, we're not going to fire him," Johnson told ESPN after the Lakers fell behind by 41-10 in the first quarter before losing to Toronto 121-107 Sunday at home. "[The meeting last week with Walton] was not even a meeting about that. We just got better and that was it. "
When asked if Johnson intends to keep a watchful eye on this issue, as he first told the Los Angeles Times earlier on Sunday, Johnson confirmed, "Yeah."
Asked what drastic can be defined, Johnson politely declined to go into detail.
The Lakers were outscored 42-17 by the Raptors in the first quarter of the first quarter of the year at the time of the day (since 1954-55).
Luke Walton reports with ESPN reported that Magic Johnson admonished the Lakers coach following a winless two-game trip. Walton said he has a great relationship with management.
Lakers president Magic Johnson admonished coach Luke Walton as the new-look roster featuring LeBron James has gotten off to a sluggish start.
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"No, not going into that," Johnson said with a laugh. "He's our coach, we're supporting him, and that's it.
Johnson's support for Walton comes two days after ESPN reported that the Lakers president of basketball operations chided Walton in a meeting following the Lakers' two-road losses at San Antonio and Minnesota and their 2-5 start.
Johnson said the meeting was not about Walton's future but rather the Lakers had been playing in their rocky start to the season.
"Yeah, it was," said Johnson when asked if the meeting was positive and necessary. "We're last in defense, we got to get better."
When the Lakers fell behind 41-10 and trailed 42-17 at the end of the quarter in Toronto, which was playing without Kawhi Leonard. Entering Sunday, the Lakers had never been more than 24 points in a first quarter in the shot-clock era (since 1954-55), according to the data compiled by ESPN Stats & Info.
The Lakers made a late run but could not overcome the gap.
Prior to the Toronto loss, Walton said he did not know how to do it.
"I have my job to coach this team and support is nice, obviously, it is coming from my dad or it's coming from another coach," Walton said. "It's nice but it does not change what I'm doing as far as the job and coaching this team and these players.
Johnson repeatedly said during the summer that patience was required, especially if there was a slow start.
"My job is hard but it is a lot of fun," added Walton when asked if the news of his meeting with Johnson. "I love my job." Prepaid for Portland [on Saturday] is never easy but we went to our business the same we always do. "
When asked what his father said, Bill Walton, said to him, the coach replied, "that he loves and supports me no matter what."
The Lakers won two straight after Johnson's meeting with Walton, but it's not easy to get the job done.
Following their first win against the Blazers in 17 attempts on Saturday, the Lakers opened their home game on Sunday night.
The Lakers next face Minnesota at home on Wednesday.
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