Vogel benched Westbrook: "Playing the guys that I thought were going to win the game”

[KnicksGadfly]

but benching russ didnt produce a winning result lol

Got a revelation for you. No one’s saying the Lakers are going to be contenders without Russ. All we’re saying is that they’ll suck less.

[JN61]

You genuinely must be Russ’s mum, cousin or some other family member to have this take.

Why? Because I don't try find a scapegoat out of a player who didn't even play last 4+? minutes of the 4th while Lakers were busy choking their lead away? Lebron fans are in shambles...


Westbrook been solid in clutch time anyway, despite bad takes on this board. Last 5 minutes he averages 55% shooting 0.7 assists and 0.2 turnovers per game when game is close. In last 3 it's 50%, 0.5 assists and 0.2 turnovers. Westbrook's TS% in the last 5 minutes of the clutch time is nearly 60%.

Lebron averages 43% shooting and 0.6 assists and 0.3 turnovers. Last 3 he is at 44% FG, 0.5 assists and 0.2 turnovers.

Mainly because it’s impossible to watch him play and rationally think that.

They were already down 7 when he went out and he was shooting a classic Russ line sub 30%

It’s hard to know what is worse with Russ, the shooting or the decision making.

Cherry picking a few stats when it is blindingly obvious he is hurting the team is just silly.

Okay then.

[ElectricMayhem]

Vogel maybe right about Westbrook, but he's still a dead man walking.

[LuDux1]

but benching russ didnt produce a winning result lol

[floppymoose]

I wish I could find my realgm post after the Lakers traded for RW... it was something like "well we (GSW) won't need to worry about the Lakers this season".

[Ontario]

He secured the win against Utah and now was benched and they lost. Not surprised really.

You genuinely must be Russ’s mum, cousin or some other family member to have this take.

Why? Because I don't try find a scapegoat out of a player who didn't even play last 4+? minutes of the 4th while Lakers were busy choking their lead away? Lebron fans are in shambles...


Westbrook been solid in clutch time anyway, despite bad takes on this board. Last 5 minutes he averages 55% shooting 0.7 assists and 0.2 turnovers per game when game is close. In last 3 it's 50%, 0.5 assists and 0.2 turnovers. Westbrook's TS% in the last 5 minutes of the clutch time is nearly 60%.

Lebron averages 43% shooting and 0.6 assists and 0.3 turnovers. Last 3 he is at 44% FG, 0.5 assists and 0.2 turnovers.

If I was Russ I'd embrace this, lets see you guys rack up a half dozen losses or so where you cannot blame me then come talk to me lol.

He has looked off lately though, I honestly think the bombardment of critism has started to affect him, he clearly is consiously trying to hold his TO's down now and his shooting and passing seem to have both been negatively impacted.

[BallerTalk]

Nobody ever told this fool about his crap play.

Nah, he's been told before and his response was to bristle and demand a trade to somewhere he could play "his game".

[Ontario]

Nobody ever told this fool about his crap play.

Nah, he's been told before and his response was to bristle and demand a trade to somewhere he could play "his game".

Russ hasn't ever demanded a trade in his whole career, he left every stop amicably.

The one guy who can still win a title for the team this year is Scott Brooks.... he isn't a savant of a coach but does understand Russ better then any other coach in the league.... Pitch Vogel and go ask Portland to talk to Scott.

[1bigfan13]

Remember when Westbrook said Pat Beverley be fooling people into thinking he playing defense, he just be running around?

As a guy who used to watch at least 70 Westbrook games a year, I immediately said the same thing can be said about you, Russ.

People who only watch him a few times a year or thru highlights, assume he plays hard and hustles all the time. Nope.

He's on a bigger brighter stage now and all of his flaws are being exposed.

The only time he hustles and goes all out is when the ball is in his hands. Otherwise he mostly just stands and watches on offense. There's very little off ball movement from him. The same thing on defense. The only time he's mildly engaged is when his guy has the ball.

OKC coddled him too much and I honestly think it stunted his growth as a player, IMO. Because he really hasn't added anything to his game since around year 5. In fact he actually got a lot worse in some areas when he was in his prime. Very odd, but it points to a player who doesn't take to coaching very well and who chooses to march to the beat of his own drum.

[mpoo_sin]

You genuinely must be Russ’s mum, cousin or some other family member to have this take.

Why? Because I don't try find a scapegoat out of a player who didn't even play last 4+? minutes of the 4th while Lakers were busy choking their lead away? Lebron fans are in shambles...


Westbrook been solid in clutch time anyway, despite bad takes on this board. Last 5 minutes he averages 55% shooting 0.7 assists and 0.2 turnovers per game when game is close. In last 3 it's 50%, 0.5 assists and 0.2 turnovers. Westbrook's TS% in the last 5 minutes of the clutch time is nearly 60%.

Lebron averages 43% shooting and 0.6 assists and 0.3 turnovers. Last 3 he is at 44% FG, 0.5 assists and 0.2 turnovers.

If I was Russ I'd embrace this, lets see you guys rack up a half dozen losses or so where you cannot blame me then come talk to me lol.

He has looked off lately though, I honestly think the bombardment of critism has started to affect him, he clearly is consiously trying to hold his TO's down now and his shooting and passing seem to have both been negatively impacted.

His TOs are down because he essentially stopped trying to initiate the offense. I honestly do not know if this is better or worse regarding his play.

[slick_watts]

if russell westbrook is traded again this summer, he'll have been traded every season of his 5-year max "loyalty" extension he signed in 2017. which is unbelievable.

[BallerTalk]

Nobody ever told this fool about his crap play.

Nah, he's been told before and his response was to bristle and demand a trade to somewhere he could play "his game".

Russ hasn't ever demanded a trade in his whole career, he left every stop amicably.

Close.

You're wrong about never requesting a trade, he has actually asked for a trade at least twice (Houston, Washington).

You're right about the amicable part as both teams were more than happy to move on from the Westbrook experience.

[Ontario]

Nah, he's been told before and his response was to bristle and demand a trade to somewhere he could play "his game".

Russ hasn't ever demanded a trade in his whole career, he left every stop amicably.

Close.

You're wrong about never requesting a trade, he has actually asked for a trade at least twice (Houston, Washington).

You're right about the amicable part as both teams were more than happy to move on from the Westbrook experience.

Close.

You're wrong about demanding a trade out of Houston and Washington.

In Houston part of the agreement in Russ joining the team was that if it blew up they would help him find a decent spot to move onto. Harden already after the bubble started poking holes in the ship and even though that wasn't all public yet when they traded WB they were more or less just fulfilling their side of the deal to help him land in a spot he was comforable in after the train started to wreck.

In Washington I honestly feel management was annoyed at Russ because even though the last month and a half fo the year were amazing and he got them into the playoffs the owners proabbly would have preffered a full tank strategy. Anyways the Lakers called them and Russ was happy to have a palce that wanted him and Washingotn was happy to move an asset that did play great for them but wasn't part of the long term plan.

You're right about the part I was already right about.

As a side note not only has Russ never demanded a trade he's also never gone out of his way to get a coach fired. Plays hard, supports his teammates, doesn't cause trouble... yet the audience hates him? Who knows?

[art_tatum]

They still lost
It's not just westy. It's LeBron the bench and AD when he's playing, the coach
So everyone. There's no buy in to a system.
They are just relying on individual talent. LeBron ball. Westbrook ball. Etc

[NyKnicks1714]

Read on Twitter

This is pretty interesting

[Lockdown504090]

You genuinely must be Russ’s mum, cousin or some other family member to have this take.

Why? Because I don't try find a scapegoat out of a player who didn't even play last 4+? minutes of the 4th while Lakers were busy choking their lead away? Lebron fans are in shambles...


Westbrook been solid in clutch time anyway, despite bad takes on this board. Last 5 minutes he averages 55% shooting 0.7 assists and 0.2 turnovers per game when game is close. In last 3 it's 50%, 0.5 assists and 0.2 turnovers. Westbrook's TS% in the last 5 minutes of the clutch time is nearly 60%.

Lebron averages 43% shooting and 0.6 assists and 0.3 turnovers. Last 3 he is at 44% FG, 0.5 assists and 0.2 turnovers.

Mainly because it’s impossible to watch him play and rationally think that.

They were already down 7 when he went out and he was shooting a classic Russ line sub 30%

It’s hard to know what is worse with Russ, the shooting or the decision making.

Cherry picking a few stats when it is blindingly obvious he is hurting the team is just silly.

defenitely the defense for me.

[BeatDaCavs420]

Funny Lebron can't answer questions by the media, but can always run to his twitter.

[mademan]

Right call, a little late. Lakers can still be competitive and contenders if all they do is put spacing around AD/Lebron even with the chit defense. Go all in on the 2018 Cavs strategy and put up a chit ton of 3's

Monk
Reaves
Lebron
Melo
AD

Just need to upgrade Melo.

[matt6715]

Seems like the Lakers could really use some depth.

Maybe Kuzma, KCP, Harrell, and whoever they could have selected in the draft (or flipped the pick for)

[BallerTalk]

Russ hasn't ever demanded a trade in his whole career, he left every stop amicably.

Close.

You're wrong about never requesting a trade, he has actually asked for a trade at least twice (Houston, Washington).

You're right about the amicable part as both teams were more than happy to move on from the Westbrook experience.

Close.

You're wrong about demanding a trade out of Houston and Washington.

In Houston part of the agreement in Russ joining the team was that if it blew up they would help him find a decent spot to move onto. Harden already after the bubble started poking holes in the ship and even though that wasn't all public yet when they traded WB they were more or less just fulfilling their side of the deal to help him land in a spot he was comforable in after the train started to wreck.

In Washington I honestly feel management was annoyed at Russ because even though the last month and a half fo the year were amazing and he got them into the playoffs the owners proabbly would have preffered a full tank strategy. Anyways the Lakers called them and Russ was happy to have a palce that wanted him and Washingotn was happy to move an asset that did play great for them but wasn't part of the long term plan.

You're right about the part I was already right about.

As a side note not only has Russ never demanded a trade he's also never gone out of his way to get a coach fired. Plays hard, supports his teammates, doesn't cause trouble... yet the audience hates him? Who knows?

Buddy, you might wanna ditch those "We Love Westbrook" fanboi pages. They are leading you astray.

Most of this is common knowledge for informed NBA fans but it seems somehow you missed it all.
So for your edification here's a link that not only highlights Westbrook's trade request from Houston, but also the conniving that went on behind his eventual request from Washington.

Sorry if this undermines your obvious faith in Saint Russ, although it really shouldn't. By all accounts he's a great guy away from basketball.
But as an NBA player...