Frank Vogel had green light to bench Russell Westbrook
Source: Dave McMenamin @ ESPN
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Thursday’s @LockedOnLakers podcast! We discuss a brutal loss to the Pacers, Frank Vogel’s tenuous status, Westbrook benched, the Lakers making James Worthy sad, and more. #FirstListen @LockedOnNBAPods @LockedOnNetwork
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podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lak… – 12:06 PM
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Lakers with Russell Westbrook ON in fourth quarters: 342 minutes, -34
Lakers with Russell Westbrook OFF in fourth quarters: 198 minutes, +50
Benching Russ wasn’t only necessary, it frankly came at least a month too late. – 12:02 PM
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Lakers with Russell Westbrook ON in fourth quarters: 342 minutes, -34
Lakers with Russell Westbrook ON in fourth quarters: 198 minutes, +50
Benching Russ wasn’t only necessary, it frankly came at least a month too late. – 12:00 PM
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Joining @dpshow in the next few minutes to discuss Frank Vogel and Russell Westbrook’s fourth quarter benching in last night’s loss to the Pacers. – 11:23 AM
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Frank Vogel is the scapegoat but Russell Westbrook is the problem.
Full video: https://t.co/6sQKqi7Qo2 pic.twitter.com/gtPPpBdUi0 – 10:11 AM
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Firing Frank Vogel might help the Lakers but it won’t change the roster. And Russell Westbrook still needs to be better.
New video on the example set by LeBron playing center, how some new pieces are fitting, and why Russ can evolve while still staying true to himself. – 10:00 AM
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Well, this is it. I’ve hit rock-bottom. I had some opinions on Westbrook after the highlights and Stephen A then pretty much said what I was thinking.
Pray for me. – 9:40 AM
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New story: Frank Vogel’s decision to bench Russell Westbrook was sanctioned by Lakers management, sources told ESPN. With the team teetering around .500 at the midway point, the staff in essence was told “you got to do what you got to do” with Westbrook es.pn/3nE7kDi – 4:21 AM
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Three players in NBA history have posted 49+ points, 14+ rebounds, 10+ assists and 3+ steals in a game, per Nuggets PR: Larry Bird, Russell Westbrook and Nikola Jokic. – 3:31 AM
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Frank Vogel benches Westbrook for final four minutes of Lakers ugly loss nba.nbcsports.com/2022/01/20/fra… – 3:10 AM
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The Lakers lost, and for the last 3:52 of that defeat, Russell Westbrook wasn’t in the game: ocregister.com/2022/01/19/lak… – 2:17 AM
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Carmelo Anthony on Russell Westbrook not closing out in crunch time: “It’s an adjustment. I think I know what he’s dealing with. I’ve been there before. I don’t think it’s anything personal.” – 1:29 AM
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Russell Westbrook left without speaking with the media but LeBron sure seemed to indicate the end-of-game benching did not go over well with the $44 million man. – 1:28 AM
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Russell Westbrook left the arena without speaking to reporters tonight. – 1:28 AM
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Russell Westbrook, who was benched for the final 3:52 of the Lakers’ loss to the Pacers, left without speaking to the media tonight. – 1:25 AM
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Russell Westbrook left the arena without speaking to reporters tonight. – 1:25 AM
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Russell Westbrook left the arena without speaking to the media tonight. – 1:25 AM
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Russell Westbrook left the arena without speaking to reporters. – 1:24 AM
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Frank Vogel on his decision to sub out Russell Westbrook for the final four minutes of the game: “Playing the guys that I thought were going to win the game” – 1:09 AM
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Asked why Russell Westbrook finished the game on the bench Frank Vogel said he was “playing the guys I thought we’re gonna win the game.” – 1:09 AM
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Frank Vogel on his reasoning for benching Russell Westbrook for the final 3:52 of the loss: “Playing the guys I thought were gonna win the game.” – 1:08 AM
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Lakers coach Frank Vogel on not closing out with Russell Westbrook: “Playing the guys that I thought were going to win the game.” – 1:08 AM
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Russell Westbrook is shooting 32% and 25% from three in 2022. pic.twitter.com/2AXqkNywG1 – 1:03 AM
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The Lakers overpaid for AD (when they had all the leverage to make a better trade), refused to include THT in a deal for Kyle Lowry and made the bonkers Westbrook trade when other options (Hield or, you know, do nothing) made more sense. That’s why they are in this mess. – 1:02 AM
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Frank Vogel leaves Russell Westbrook on the bench at the end of a tight game when his coaching future is, as @theathletic reported yesterday, being evaluated game-by-game. That doesn’t speak volumes, it’s screaming. – 12:50 AM
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Cant figure out what’s worse: The Lakers offense or defense. Westbrook gets beat middle, doesn’t move his feet to stay in front of LeVert, reaches for a steal, gives up a layup. Terrible looks in traffic/contested. Just horrible all the way around #PacersLakers – 12:42 AM
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Lakers led the entire half, up 56-50. They already have nine 3s, including three from Westbrook.
LeBron, who scored 39 last meeting, has 18/8/4. Brogdon led the Pacers with 10. Both Bitadze and Jackson looked good in their brief opportunity. – 11:42 PM
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It is so perfectly Westbrook to go from getting awarded three free throws to an offensive foul in the act of shooting. The swings are always wild. AK – 11:30 PM
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Successful challenge for Carlisle. Instead of Westbrook shooting three foul shots, it’s an offensive foul. And Torrey Craig has the blood to prove it.
Lakers have outplayed the Pacers in the first half, and lead by 14. – 11:29 PM
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Fouling Westbrook on a 3 is a fineable offense. You shouldn’t even contest him to begin with. If your hand moves in the direction of one of his jump shots, it should be rerouted directly to your wallet. – 11:28 PM
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Russell Westbrook is the best player in the league since going Thanos on Rudy Gobert. AK – 11:24 PM
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Yo Westbrook is really 3-for-3 on 3s. Lol THT is 2-for-3. – 11:22 PM
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Lakers are going to start the same way as they did against the Jazz, with LeBron, Ariza, Westbrook, Bradley and Dwight. – 10:02 PM
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Malcolm Brogdon returns tonight for the Pacers. He’s starting at the Lakers, along with LeVert, Holiday, Craig and Sabonis.
Lakers going with Westbrook, Bradley, Ariza, LeBron and Dwight. – 10:02 PM
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The Lakers are starting the same group as last game against the Pacers:
Dwight Howard
LeBron James
Trevor Ariza
Avery Bradley
Russell Westbrook – 10:02 PM
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Lakers star Russell Westbrook has “zero” trade market as of now
sportando.basketball/en/lakers-star… – 1:40 PM
More on this storyline
The coaching staff had been debating whether to pull Westbrook from late-game situations for weeks, sources said, but always refrained because of worries about the lasting impact on Westbrook’s psyche. Indeed, even LeBron James danced around the subject of Westbrook’s benching, perhaps not wanting to draw further attention to the indignity for the former league MVP. “Would you think that would bother Russ not being in a late game?” he said, answering a reporter’s question with a question, rather than giving a straight answer. -via ESPN / January 20, 2022 Westbrook also had already vacated the locker room by the time his teammates were finished showering, sources said, forgoing any postgame discussion with the team. “I don’t think it’s nothing personal,” said Lakers forward Carmelo Anthony, who recently said that he can relate to the role adjustment Westbrook is going through this season, having done it himself a few years back. “It’s just something that he’s not used to. You would think somebody like that would be on the court. But with the flow of the game, there’s been times I haven’t been in the game or other guys haven’t been in the game. So I don’t think it’s anything personal.” -via ESPN / January 20, 2022 “It’s just something that Russ has got to … ,” Anthony said before correcting himself mid-sentence, “We gotta help him figure it out.” “It’s frustrating. I can tell you that,” he continued. “It’s frustrating as a player who’s trying to make it right, trying to do things right. This is new for him. This is a new situation. This is a new environment. We got to help him through it. I mean, that’s the only thing we can do, is make sure his mental is right. That’s the only thing I care about. I don’t care about any basketball stuff when it comes to Russ. -via ESPN / January 20, 2022