The Lakers won first and then lost to the Pacers, and this game does not mean much in the game itself. On the contrary, Vogel's post-match words are intriguing.
Asked by reporters why Vogel was not on Westbrook in the final stages of the game, Vogel said: "I sent a squad that I thought I could win. ”
In other words, Vogel believes that Westbrook cannot help the team win. In this game, Wei Shao only played 26 minutes and 36 seconds, and was replaced by Munch with 3 minutes and 52 seconds left in the final quarter, and then did not appear again.
So how did Westbrook perform in this game? Shooting 5-of-17, including 4-of-6 from three-point range, he had 14 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal. 4 of 6 outside the three-point line, but 11 out of 1 inside the three-point line, which is very threatening.
It doesn't really make much sense that Westbrook can shoot goals outside the three-point line, and he can only help the Lakers win if he plays steadily within three points. Because everyone knows that Westbrook can't make 4 of 6 three-pointers in every game.
Vogel's disappointment with Westbrook should be that he should have been able to contribute steadily within the three-point line every game, but he has not done so this season. According to statistics, since 2022, Wei Shao has played in 9 games for the Lakers, with a shooting percentage of 32% during the period. Wei Shao's large number of shots are within the three-point line, his shooting rate should be very high, and Wei Shao's ability to grasp the basket at the peak is very strong. But this season Westbrook has lost the breakthrough focus.
Vogel has lost faith in Westbrook, and his response is to reduce Westbrook's playing time. Westbrook played less than 28 minutes in three consecutive games, the second time in his career, the last time being in his rookie season (7 consecutive games from October 30 to November 11, 2008). According to a number of Lakers reporters, Wei Shao did not accept media interviews after the game and left the stadium directly.
Reduce Wei Shao's playing time, abandon Wei Shao at key moments, no longer find reasons for interviews after the game, and directly point out that Wei Shao cannot help the team win. Vogel had broken the jar and broken it.
Why did Vogel break the jar? Because he suffered from the crisis of graduation. Lakers reporter Dan Woike reported that after the Lakers lost to the Kings, Pelinka, Curt Lambis (senior adviser) met with coach Vogel and assistant coach Fitzdale, and Lambis proposed that the Lakers use Howard and Jordan Jr. in a large lineup. According to US media reports, if the Lakers did not beat the Jazz in the last game, Vogel may be out of class.
Lakers local media laker Central reported that the Lambis incident was revealed to the Los Angeles Times by the Lakers coaching staff, and Vogel told the world that if he was fired, it would expose the incompetence of the Lakers boss and management.
Vogel has a crisis of leaving class, and naturally has no scruples. Anyway, no matter how he did it, he would lose, so he didn't have to give Wei Shao face. From this, it can be seen that Westbrook should not be the player Vogel wants. The introduction of Westbrook in last offseason should have been a decision made by lakers management.
The coach has to line up according to the players he has, but if the players he has are not good at debugging, it will be difficult for qiao women to cook without rice.
After this battle, Vogel and Wei Shao basically stood on the opposite side. If the Lakers don't fire Vogel and don't send Wei Shao away at the same time, then Wei Shao may have less and less time to play after that, and may even play as a substitute. Between Vogel and Westbrook, how will the Lakers management choose?
Personally, I think this is very good, rather than being confused, it is better to show off everything. With the Lakers' current lineup, it should still be okay to get playoff tickets, but it is a joke to try to impact the championship.
James is in very good shape this season, the thick eyebrow brother is also in the year of playing, the Lakers with the Zhan Mei combination, can not win the championship is a failure. That being the case, let's put the cards on the table and see if we can break it and put it to death and come back to life.