The firing of head coach Frank Vogel is going to happen. It’s just a matter of when.
Asked directly whether he had spoken with anyone in the Lakersâ front office about his future, Vogel was clear that this was news to him.
âMy reaction is, I havenât been told sâ and Iâm going to enjoy tonightâs game and celebrate what these young guys did in terms of scratching and clawing and getting back into this game and getting a W. Weâll deal with tomorrow, tomorrow,â he said.
Frank Vogel Reacts to Report Heâs Out as Lakers Coach https://t.co/1dNXxxSXZ9
— SideAction (@SideActionHQ) April 11, 2022
Vogel had reportedly lost his connection with his players. Apparently his players reaction to him in real time during games wasn’t great.
âOpposing scouts said they saw Lakers players ignoring their coachesâ instruction,â wrote Dan Woike and Broderick Turner.
During training camp, Vogel looked to establish the Lakers as a fast-breaking team, just like they were during their championship season, but Westbrook threatened to torpedo such efforts.
âRuss [Westbrook] never respected Frank [Vogel] from Day 1,â said one Lakers staff member with knowledge of the situation. âThe moment Frank said anybody who gets the rebound can bring it up the court, which is just how the NBA is played these days, Russ was like, âNaw, Iâm the point guard. Give the ball to me. Everybody run. Frank was like, âNo, we have Talen [Horton-Tucker] We have Austin [Reaves]. We have Malik. We have LeBron. We have AD. They can all bring the ball up.â He was like, âNope, Iâm the point guard. Give me that sâ. Everybody get out the way.â
âFrom that point on, in training camp, it was a wrap, âcause now Russ is a fish out of water. He doesnât know what to do. Thatâs how that started.â
Vogel was forced to change the starting lineup probably a little too much, but that goes along with the pressure of having to win now.
Having too many cooks in the kitchen will always sink a team, and we know with Russ and LeBron, you have some pretty oversized egos.
You can’t win if you don’t respect the man in charge.
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