In the recent game against the Knicks, the Lakers won 122-115. Facing this team in the east, the Purple and Gold Army, which sits on the big three, did not win smoothly, and was even forced into extra time by the opponent.
In extra time, Wei Shao, who joined the team this season, did not get a minute of playing time. Throughout the game, Westbrook was 1 of 10, with only 5 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists. Instead, Munch, who scored 29 points, was more like a member of the team's "Big Three."
Counting this game, this is the second time this season that Westbrook has not played in a key moment. What happened to make Westbrook unable to play, and why did Lakers coach Vogel dare to make such a bold decision?
After the game, Vogel said in an interview with the media that he hoped the dispatch would inspire Westbrook to perform better in the following games. In response, Wei Shao said understandingly: "He is the coach, he will make any decision that is best for our team." ”
Of course, Vogel put Westbrook on the bench at the end of the game, and it wasn't the first time that that had happened. On Jan. 20, 2022, when the Lakers played against the Pacers, Vogel didn't let Westbrook play at the end of the fourth quarter, and the team lost 104-111.
In fact, in this game against the Knicks, Vogel tried to give Wei Shao a chance to prove himself, although Wei Shao had been frantically playing iron at that time, But Vogel was still willing to believe him and sent him to the court at the critical moment, but the result was very embarrassing.
Because the Lakers still have a 7-point lead when there are 1 minute and 12 seconds left in the game. However, this advantage, because the Lakers' defense was too poor, disappeared a little bit, and was eventually equalized by the Knicks' RJ Barrett's three-pointer.
So after the game went into extra time, Vogel decided to replace Wei Shao as the starter with Tucker Jr., who was better defensive and better defensive and attackless. In the end, the Lakers also successfully defeated the Knicks 122-115 and won a difficult victory.
Although Vogel's practice of refrigerating Westbrook did have the support of the team's top brass, it was indeed not easy to put the team's highest-paid player on the bench in the decisive stage of the game.
Because if they lose to each other again this time, then the fans may shift the responsibility for the defeat to the coach, thinking that he should put Wei Shao at the key moment of the game, so Vogel and the team's coaching staff are definitely commendable for their performance this time.
The reason why Westbrook has appeared twice in the predicament of sitting on the cold bench at key moments this season is definitely not an accident. Although Wei Shao did have a lot of doubts when he first joined the team, he really did not expect that he would be worse than this.
Currently, Westbrook averages just 18.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game, well below his career average. As a guard player, Westbrook's slump outside the three-point line, I believe there is no need to deliberately elaborate, everyone understands.
Westbrook has averaged 3.5 three-pointers per game this season, but only 30 percent from the field. So when a defender is defending him, he usually chooses to take a step back, preferring to give him space to project rather than let him break through.
In addition, Wei Shao did not know what evil was hit this season, and repeatedly tried the jump shot of the mid-range emergency stop board, although there were occasional successful examples, but more of them were directly popped out after playing the board, and even directly bounced onto the timer on the basket.
As a professional guard with only 30.5% shooting from three-point range and only 43.7% shooting, the problem of Westbrook's weak offensive end has always existed, but he has always completed the offense in a breakthrough way, and this problem has been hidden.
Compared to Morant, who also uses breakthrough as the main offensive method, Westbrook's shooting rate from the basket is only 59.3%, while Morant is as high as 70.8%. Players with the same style of play have such a big disparity in the finish, they have to sigh that the years are merciless.
Unconsciously, the explosive defender who could dunk and never go to the basket is now 33 years old. Looking at Morant, who is now only 22 years old, Wei Shao's eyes are estimated to be full of the shadow of his youth.
It is no exaggeration to say that wei shao has indeed lost a certain degree of self-confidence on the court. By the time he received a pass from his teammate in the open space, he was no longer willing to shoot directly. When it comes to breaking through the layup, it also seems to be somewhat indecisive.
Dare not attack at key moments, or the end efficiency is too low, making Wei Shao has become a time bomb for the Lakers. If you can lay the lead in the first three quarters, it is naturally excellent.
However, if in the next game, like in the game against the Pacers and Knicks, in the final quarter in the score stalemate stage, when Wei Shao's hand is not good, I believe that Vogel will not hesitate to put Wei Shao on the bench.
Although The transfer of Vogel was successful in this reversal of the Knicks, it also showed that Westbrook did not match the Lakers with James as the core. This also reflects from the side that the Lakers' decision to trade the MVP last summer is more harmful than beneficial for the time being.
For the Purple and Gold, there is not much time left this season. After playing 54 games, the Lakers' record is only 26 wins and 28 losses, and the winning rate is not even 50%, which is simply unbelievable.
In the remaining 28 games, if the Lakers really can't seize the opportunity and play back to the top six, then they will most likely have to go to the playoffs again to compete for a ticket to the last train in the playoffs.
As the closing date of the transaction is approaching, although there have been rumors of a deal with Wei Shao from time to time recently, given that the salary of his contract is too large and his performance is so poor, it is not easy to find a suitable wronged boss.
So the final situation will be that the Lakers will most likely let Wei Shao play this season, and then according to the situation of the later games, decide whether to send Wei Shao to other teams in the offseason.
Since there is no way to trade this season, the Lakers naturally hope that Westbrook can regain self-confidence and regain his heroic performance against the Jazz. At the same time, it also allowed Lakers fans to respond to Wei Shao's performance with applause and encouragement, rather than booing.
Next, the Lakers will face the Blazers, Warriors, Jazz, Clippers, Pelicans, in addition to the Warriors and Jazz these two teams, the rest of the teams are actually the Lakers' main competitors for the playoffs.
So these games, the Lakers are bound to win. If they continue to dig the pit, then their situation will only be more severe. I also hope that Wei Shao can seize the opportunity in these games and prove himself again.