2021-2022 NBA Season

[shopson67]

Hell of a night but Embiid did what he did in 27 minutes.

The question is why. He certainly wasn't exerting himself defensively against Bamba's career night and wasn't in foul trouble.

 

[fightinfunbags]

The question is why. He certainly wasn't exerting himself defensively against Bamba's career night and wasn't in foul trouble.

Because they blew out the Magic and he didn't get more than a handful of 4th quarter minutes.

 

[shopson67]

Yeah, his decision to force his way out the next year shouldn't piss off the fans at all lol.

 

[shopson67]

Benching a guy who has scored 14 points on 17 shots is not throwing him under the bus.

4-6 from 3 and only 1 TO, but 4 fouls and 29% from the field overall with only 2 reb and 3 assists. Yet another strange stat line from Russ.

 

[shopson67]

Is there a limit on how many games you can be out and still be a serious contender? I think Giannis is 2nd at the moment.

He's on pace for 61 games played, way ahead of his 51 last year lol.

 

[shopson67]

I’d say that is the top 3 since KD went down, any of them can win it at this point.

Ja getting more support lately too.

 

[shopson67]

Because they blew out the Magic and he didn't get more than a handful of 4th quarter minutes.

14 pt lead going into the 4th didn't read as a blowout to me, but I didn't watch any of it.

 

[Retroram52]

Westbrook was benched with three and change minutes left in last night's game against the Pacers for not playing defense that was so overtly bad that he nearly let the Pacers back in the game himself. He has been doing it all year. The guy thinks he doesn't have to play defense and that has bristled Vogel on a number of occasions.

Russ benched; Vogel had green light, sources say

Coach Frank Vogel pulled Russell Westbrook late in the Lakers' loss to the Pacers on Wednesday night, with sources saying Vogel had assurances that the organization would support him in taking a hard line in coaching the star.

www.espn.com

 

[Shanemansj13]

Some of these players listed is why making an all-star team isn’t that impressive anymore. Klay and DRose, even Kyrie should not be on here

 

[Retroram52]

And this is what this mess has come to as the Lakers are considering their options for this waste of an NBA player. I think the dude has worn out his welcome.

The Lakers' all-in gamble on Russell Westbrook is backfiring and might get ugly

Russell Westbrook and the Lakers are running out of answers after he was benched during the team's loss to the Pacers.

www.yahoo.com

 

[wildturkey]

Maybe for good reason?

Vogel’s rotations seem complicated at times.

That was a clear mistake by Melo and a mistake a vet can’t make. While I can’t imagine a scenario where Vogel would want a defender to leave ball side to double 3 passes away, when you have highly complicated defensive rotations, players are more likely to make mistakes.

Yep @wildturkey been saying this all year but Vogel doesn't seem to understand this

What's more frustrating to me on this is why Melo is in the position to begin and its why Vogel does share significant part of the blame. Literally a day or two ago, Vogel gave an interview where he conceded the small ball centerless lineups weren't really all that good, were mostly used out of necessity due to players out and he would likely move away from them. And its true, they've largely sucked against teams with any semi-capable big.

Well what happened last night? When the Pacers made their run to overtake the Lakers late in the 3rd and into 4th, what triggered it? Vogel removed Howard and started playing Melo at Center. CARMELO ANTHONY AT CENTER. Sabonis just roasted him. Pacers started putting Levert and Sabonis in every action and Melo, never a defensive player, had no clue how to handle either. And they just kept going and going and he never made an adjustment. Not only did Vogel completely contradict himself from the interview a day or so earlier, he failed to make a change in the moment.

The front office 1000% fucked up this roster trading for Westbrook, but stuff like this is 1000% on Frank Vogel. Everyone is assigning blame the last few days and its really 50/50. But its far too late into the season to where a change would fix either. The Lakers best chance is have Davis come back healthy and play like AD and not the softass player he was at the start of the season AND hope for a good buyout player like Gary Harris or Thad Young. And even then, their ceiling would likely be 2nd round finish.

 

[thunderc]

All signs point to Vogel being on his way out, the coach always pays for the sins of everyone.

 

[wildturkey]

Benching a guy who has scored 14 points on 17 shots is not throwing him under the bus.

It's saying it out loud though. Westbrook has actually earned his benching. There's been multiple instances all year where his play was a direct result o of the Lakers blowing a chance at win with his signature reckless Westbrook style. But he waited all the way until now to do it and then he said it out loud. All season Vogel, regardless of how bad the players have been, he's publicly supported. Singling out Westbrook here is throwing him under the bus. He could have answered the question in a coach speak way that didn't do that. Something like "I thought this group in the moment had some momentum" or whatever non-answer. But he didn't sidestep the question and called Westbrook out.

 

[fightinfunbags]

14 pt lead going into the 4th didn't read as a blowout to me, but I didn't watch any of it.

It ballooned to 30

 

[dtgold88]

No one guessed the Cavs for some reason

seemed like an obvious answer but didn't want to look like a homer.

 

[dtgold88]

Well they split with the Bulls and Nets…I will take it. Chicago got every break and loose ball tonight. Cavs too sloppy. I just realized how much DeRozan flops too lol

Not a blame the coach guy but at least curious why took so long to put Okoro on DD more...guess answer might be because if you did it might leave a big guy on a SG.

Sucked to get hopes up and back to 1 then fall apart.

Oh well.

 

[dtgold88]

Allen didn't bother to show up

agree was one of his worse games of the year that I can recall.

 

[dtgold88]

Some of these players listed is why making an all-star team isn’t that impressive anymore. Klay and DRose, even Kyrie should not be on here

I can agree there are guys on there who shouldn't be but to make an all star team of 12 is still pretty impressive IMO.

 

[Retroram52]

And now well-known sports pundit Bill Plaschke is providing his take on the shit-show known as the Lakers. It is pretty close to the truth b-t-w. Jeannie Buss now needs to step in and rid the team of the FO clown show of the Rambises and haul Pelinka's ass into her office and have a confessionary meeting as to how he (and allowing James to direct his personnel moves) took a Bubble Championship team and turned it into a clown show!!

Plaschke: Shame on Lakers for getting what they deserve: Mediocre team, major problems

The Lakers confirmed their identity as a mediocre team with major problems caused by serious mismanagement, writes L.A. Times columnist Bill Plaschke.

www.yahoo.com

 

[Shanemansj13]

agree was one of his worse games of the year that I can recall.

He didn’t have any energy. 9 cities in 13 days, I believe. He was worn out by the 2nd quarter. Next game not till Saturday so that will give them some rest