NBA legend and Thunder star Russell Westbrook has been one of the most polarizing players in recent memory. He’s an outspoken, controversial figure that is often at odds with his head coach, Frank Vogel. In what could be viewed as a desperate act to keep his job following their NBA Finals loss last week, Vogel called out Westbrook for coming into practice late on Thursday before calling him lazy
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Introduction: The green-haired man was first created by American cartoonist John Stanley in 1940 as part of a comic strip featuring Superman. Known today simply as Green Lantern or Hal Jordan (and sometimes also known incorrectly as Alan Scott), he’s become something like the face of DC Comics’ superhero line up
The “Russell Westbrook Thrown Under the Bus in Frank Vogel’s Potentially Final Desperate Act to Keep His Lakers Job” is a story about how Russell Westbrook was thrown under the bus by his coach. Read more in detail here: frank vogel.
The ongoing troubles of the Los Angeles Lakers have put head coach Frank Vogel’s job in jeopardy. Vogel is confident that he can finally guide the Lakers in the correct way as he navigates the ship. His most recent act of desperation, though, resulted in Russell Westbrook being thrown under the bus.
The Lakers suffer a heartbreaking home defeat against the Pacers.
“Playing the players who I believed were going to win the game,” Frank Vogel said of his decision to bench Russell Westbrook for the last four minutes of the game.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) January 20, 2022
The Lakers followed up an amazing victory over the Utah Jazz on Monday night with a dismal showing against the Indiana Pacers.
Los Angeles led the game throughout the first half thanks to LeBron James’ 18 points. However, they were outscored 35-24 in the fourth quarter by Indiana. Caris LeVert, a Pacers guard, scored 22 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter, a club high.
The Lakers had no defensive answer as the Pacers went on a 14-2 run spearheaded by LeVert to open the fourth. To clinch the job, he finished with three straight made shots in the last two minutes of regulation. The focus was on Westbrook’s involvement in the fourth quarter, despite Los Angeles losing to a short-handed club that had lost 17 of their previous 20 away games.
Head coach Frank Vogel elected to play Malik Monk instead of the nine-time All-Star for the last three minutes and 52 seconds of the game. The decision to sit Westbrook revealed a lot more about his standing with the team than just a single game.
Frank Vogel throws Russell Westbrook under the bus in a last-ditch effort to save his Lakers job.
According to ESPN, Frank Vogel’s decision to bench Russell Westbrook was approved by Lakers management. With the club hovering around.500 at the halfway mark, the coaching staff was basically told, “You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do” with Westbrook. https://t.co/DSKiaBSHSe
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) January 20, 2022
The Lakers’ defeat against the Pacers on Wednesday night dropped them below.500 for the second time in as many games. However, the game’s conclusion revealed a more serious problem.
The team’s honest sentiments about Westbrook’s dependability in late-game scenarios were reflected in his benching in the last four minutes. Frank Vogel said after the game that he played anyone he thought provided the team the greatest opportunity to win.
“I was playing the players I felt would win the game,” Vogel told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
The problem has only gotten worse, as McMenamin claimed that the Lakers’ management given him the go-ahead to do anything he wanted for the club. The front office has instructed the coaching staff that they can do anything they want with Westbrook over the last week and a half.
It prompted Vogel to remove the former league MVP from Wednesday’s game in the last three minutes and 52 seconds of regulation. When Westbrook was benched in favor of Monk, the Lakers were down 101-94 and he was shooting 5-of-17 from the field.
Vogel’s employment position adds a new twist to the issue, as recent rumors imply he’s coaching for his job as the Lakers are on the verge of missing the playoffs. It also supports his candid view that Westbrook is unplayable in late-game scenarios.
Although club owner Jeanie Buss said last month that Vogel’s job situation can’t be determined until the team has a healthy roster, it’s difficult to overlook the fact that the organization’s top offseason acquisition is obviously not part of the solution.
Russell Westbrook is the only option for the Lakers.
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Russell Westbrook has become immovable, no matter how much the Lakers try to convince him otherwise.
It’s not that his ability or position as one of the game’s most exciting players is in dispute; he’s just not a good fit for the Lakers. In Los Angeles, he’s battled to adapt to a smaller position, and his poor shooting and late-game mistakes have hampered the team’s effectiveness.
Despite the Lakers’ desire to deal him, his salary remains the most significant roadblock. This season, he earns $44.2 million and has a $47 million player option for the 2022-23 season. Due to his on-court problems, no club has showed a substantial interest in trading him.
All of this suggests that the Lakers will have to stay with Westbrook for the remainder of the season. It’s possible that there won’t be a settlement until the following offseason.
Spotrac provided the contract numbers.
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