Laker Coach Paul Westhead: A Whole Lotta Shakespeare Going on
In Episode 6, inexperienced English professor subs for McKinney
New Laker coach and proclaimed NBA genius Jack McKinney (Tracy Letts) tragically falls off his bike to end episode 5 of HBO’s Winning Time: The Rise of the Laker Dynasty.
In Episode 6: “Memento Mori,” with McKinney in a coma, who will fill in as the red-hot Lakers’ coach?
The noble prince
“ ’Tis better to be a noble prince than a hapless king,” assistant coach Paul Westhead (Jason Segel) tells Laker broadcaster Pat Riely (Adrien Brody) minutes before the phone rings and McKinney’s wife is breaking the news to Westhead about the accident to his best friend.
Foreshadowing at its finest.
After telling Laker owner Jerry Buss (John C. Reilly), “Yes, no, sure, I’ll coach the Lakers for one game,” Westhead sits anxiously in his car before preparing — or not preparing to meet the pesky Los Angeles media at the Forum.
Meet the press
Jerry West (Jason Clarke) tries his best to prep the nervous Westhead.
His last tidbit of advice: “Go to your comfort zone.”
