Today's game, the Lakers lost again, the Lakers who have been leading in the first three quarters collapsed in the fourth quarter, and finally lost the Pacers by 7 points. In fact, there is still a little gap between the two sides in terms of strength, in theory, the Lakers have some advantages, but whoever fights is five or five. And the season has been 5 times the big score lead has been reversed by the opponent to win. They lost defensively, no one to protect the frame made Sabonis take what the Lakers inside, and Wang Shipeng said at least three times in the commentary, "Why not go to Howard."
In this game, James had 30 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists, reaching his career milestone of 10,000 rebounds, one step closer to 30,000+10,000+10,000; while Howard had 5 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 blocks, and the career regular season rebounds reached 14,464, tying Nate Thurmond among the top ten in history. However, the Lakers were eventually reversed by the Pacers, and the milestones of James and Howard became "mileage sad".
In this game, the Lakers lost another 16 points on the inside line, and such an internal gap is really too big. Howard, who played as a center, played just 13 minutes and never played again. In the 13 minutes, Howard got 5 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 assists, and it can be clearly seen that when Howard was on the court, whether it was offensive rebounds or interior defense, he achieved good results, and he could help the team after playing, so Howard was really good.
In the final moments of the second quarter of the game, Howard returned to the court. He first scored a frontcourt rebound, and then, facing multiple opponents, forcibly grabbed the rebound. But unexpectedly, after grabbing the rebound, Vogel actually replaced Howard and let Reeves appear. Judging from Howard's actions, he first hesitated, estimating that he would not have thought that Vogel would be replaced at this time, and then he could only helplessly end up.
It has to be said that Vogel has always been obsessed with the five small lineups, sacrificing Howard's playing time in order to adapt to the team and open up space for Wei Shao. At first, it was said that Wei Shao made many mistakes, but it turned out that Wei Shao now does not pass the ball. Halfway through the season, Vogel still doesn't seem to be able to find a solution, dead james, abandoned Howard, this is Vogel's current solution.
In the fourth quarter, the Pacers can be said to be bombarding the Lakers' inner line, Sabonis played well, the Lakers just couldn't help him, but Vogel just didn't use it, and also replaced Wei Shao at the last critical moment, such an operation really made the fans not understand. After the game, the reporter asked Vogel about the substitution at the key moment of the final quarter, and Vogel replied without hesitation: "Let those players who I think can win the game play." ”
The implication is that Vogel does not trust Howard and does not trust Westbrook. Just as the so-called taxi dies for the confidant, the head coach does not trust the player, so ask which player is willing to fight for such a head coach. Maybe Howard really doesn't have that ability, but the team's inside line is broken, why not give Howard a chance? There has been news before that the Lakers have opened the assessment of Vogel's coaching, with his transfer arrangement for this game, is this not the result of self-abandonment?