Media

Frank Vogel demolishes Russell Westbrook when asked why he didn’t play him to end 4th quarter vs. Pacers

Published by
Robert Marvi

The Los Angeles Lakers had yet another disappointing loss on Wednesday when they fell to the Indiana Pacers, and Russell Westbrook was absent from the floor in crunch time.

Head coach Frank Vogel gave a short but telling response when asked why he sent the perennial All-Star to the bench at such a critical juncture.

Westbrook had a bad outing, shooting just 5-of-17 from the field and contributing just two rebounds and three assists. Although he continued to keep his turnovers very low, it was a continuation of a streak of bad shooting games for him.

Talen Horton-Tucker had another strong game with 20 points on 9-of-14 shooting and seven assists, but the Lakers allowed the Pacers’ Caris LeVert to go off for 30 points.

The loss dropped L.A. under .500 for the season yet again.

Vogel is reportedly on the hot seat, and with every loss such as Wednesday’s, one has to wonder if his days as the Lakers’ coach are about to end.

The team is about to embark on an extended road trip that will carry it to the end of the month. If it doesn’t win at least half of the games on its upcoming trip, its chances of making the playoffs may truly start to be in jeopardy.

Robert Marvi

Robert is a native of Santa Monica, Calif., and a graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara. He has been an avid NBA fan since he was a little kid in the mid '90s and fell in love with the Nick Van Exel-led Lakers teams. He truly cherishes the Kobe Bryant-era of Lakers basketball and the five world championships that came with it, and is looking forward to the team's next NBA title.

Published by
Robert Marvi

Recent Posts

Antoine Walker says LeBron wasn’t actually ‘unguardable’ in pickup game with MJ: ‘That wasn’t the case’

Earlier this year, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James recounted a story about playing in…

March 15, 2025

Dorian Finney-Smith says he noticed JJ Redick was ‘a little off’: ‘All the greats are a little bit off’

Before veteran forward Dorian Finney-Smith was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers and began playing…

March 14, 2025

D-Wade says LeBron ‘put some extra heat’ on Bronny by saying he was better than some NBA players

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and ESPN star Stephen A. Smith have been in…

March 14, 2025

Skip Bayless destroys Luka’s impact without LeBron: ‘Most of his points felt like empty calories’

Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic had some big numbers on Thursday against the Milwaukee…

March 14, 2025

Shaq says LeBron is trying to set records that will never be broken: ‘I know what he’s doing’

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James set another NBA record recently. In the team's March 4 blowout…

March 13, 2025

Sean Hannity claims he would’ve had Stephen A.’s back during LeBron confrontation: ‘Just saying’

Not long after former Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade expressed to TMZ Sports that he…

March 13, 2025