Brian Shaw’s Return to Los Angeles

Brian Shaw, the former Los Angeles Lakers player and coach, rode the bus to Staples Center and walked down to the corridor to the visiting locker room for the first time in his career as an NBA player or coach. Then he stood at center court, with the Lakers’ championship banners hanging behind him and knew he was now a member of the Indiana Pacers. It was a strange feeling. After all, Shaw spent 12 seasons as a player and a coach with the Lakers, winning three titles as a versatile guard and two as an assistant. He returned Sunday as an assistant coach with Indiana, helping guide the Pacers to a 98-96 victory. “Obviously, those memories are never going to go anywhere,” he said before his new team faced his old one for the only time this season. “I’m just trying to focus on what I’m trying to do with this team. … “My mentality is the Lakers are just like any other team. We’re going to play ‘em; we want to beat ‘em. When the game is over we can hug and shake hands and talk. Now, they’re an opponent that is standing in our way.” Conventional wisdom [...]