The NBA regular season is approaching the final stages, and it is now a critical moment for the teams to rush to score points, but the Los Angeles Lakers do not see this sense of urgency, judging from their "four-defeat five games" and the team atmosphere, they have reached the point where they have to change the system.
From the time the Lakers lost to the Pacers 104-111 at home and suffered a 15-point reversal, a key player in the Lakers lineup has not had a "deathless gold medal".
In this game, Westbrook played 27 minutes, 5 of 17 shooting, cut 14 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists, although he shot 4 of 6 three-pointers, he was replaced in the final 3 minutes and 52 seconds of the game, and then disappeared on the bench and never appeared again.
Abandoned at the crucial moment, Vogel's move is undoubtedly a signal to the outside world that Westbrook has lost the trust of the Lakers.
As a top-paid star with an annual salary of more than 40 million yuan, it is of course very difficult to accept this "humiliation", so Wei Shao turned his head and left after the game, refusing to accept an interview.
Many people in the outside world think that this operation may be Vogel's own meaning, which does not represent the will of the Lakers management and players, perhaps, he is because the team's poor performance may lead to "class" and make the final vent.
Unfortunately, the remarks and news in some interviews have shattered this view.
It is reported that Vogel has previously obtained permission from the Lakers management to let Wei Shao sit on the bench at the necessary moment, and Vogel's post-game interview directly hit the essence of the problem, "I just chose a lineup that can win."
Objectively speaking, no matter how angry and without permission, Vogel probably will not throw a top-paid star on the bench, so the real meaning of this move is that the Lakers chose to give up Wei Shao.
James was relieved, the management was helpless, and Westbrook was abandoned.
Objectively speaking, this game against the Pacers, the Lakers should definitely not lose, not to mention that the Pacers this season is a complete "fish belly", let's say that the Lakers are full of momentum in the first half, once led by 15 points, dead suppressed the Pacers, but in the last minute was tragically reversed.
No one can accept this way of failure.
In this game, LeBron James once again showed his "never old" super ability - a super double-double stat with 30 points, 12 boards, 5 assists and 2 steals.
In fact, in terms of James's current personal state, if the Lakers can do better, competing with MVP players this season in terms of his data performance may even be a matter of ten to nine.
But unfortunately, no matter how bright the data James cut this season, they are hovering madly on the verge of losing, and LeBron James is finally unbearable.
In the post-game interview, James was asked how to view Wei Shao's final substitution, he was not in the mood to argue with him again, he directly expressed his attitude with three rhetorical questions, "Have you ever paid attention to Wei Shao's career?" Have you followed Westbrook's performance this season? Do you think this will affect him? ”
Although the sentence does not directly anger Wei Shao, in fact, the words show dissatisfaction with Wei Shao, whether it is the way he can't change the way he plays, or the attitude towards him is no longer as gentle as before, it can be seen that James also chose to give up Wei Shao.
In fact, it is not only the teammates who are dissatisfied with Westbrook, at the same time, the outside world has exposed the management's attitude towards Westbrook.
According to espnant Lakers reporters, sources revealed that long before Frank Vogel's decision to let Westbrook sit on the bench at a critical moment, he had already received assurances from Lakers management to support him to take a tough approach when coaching Westbrook.
That said, Westbrook will no longer enjoy star privilege like Anthony Davis and LeBron James. At present, Wei Shao's tactical position in the Lakers has plummeted, and after losing his privileges, the difference between him and a role player is only a relatively high salary.
But no matter how hard he struggles, I'm afraid he can't change the management's decision, as his personal performance gets worse and worse, whether in the trading market or in terms of free agents, he is no longer attractive, and he is worthless for a team like the Lakers that pursues records.
In the face of this distrust situation, it is unknown what choice Westbrook will make, whether it will simply give up this season, or conscientiously accept this arrangement.
Vogel, meanwhile, was supported.
All along, the news of Vogel's "unstable position" in the Lakers has been very loud, because the team's record is not good, the player combination effect is not good, coupled with the lakers' only one-year contract with Vogel in the offseason, multiple factors have led to the outside world to believe that Vogel is on the verge of graduation.
But it seems that his position with the Lakers is still very solid, and although there are many flaws in the on-the-spot command, it seems that the management can understand him very well.
Over the past week and a half, Lakers management has informed the team's coaching staff that they are a fit for the team to coach Westbrook, even if that would mean removing him from the game, as Vogel did in the final 3 minutes and 52 seconds of today's game, according to sources.
After this storm, how the Lakers should solve these problems, from the attitude of the Lakers up and down, we can find that Westbrook's condition in the locker room may not be very good.
All aspects have been exposed, and this season, the future of the Lakers will not be placed on Westbrook.
A source familiar with the message the team's management delivered to the coaching staff described it: "You have to do what you have to do. ”
So, are the Lakers really going to trade Westbrook? What chips can he give the Lakers?
We look forward to it.