The conversations surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers towards the end of the regular season have subsided, with the postseason getting underway in earnest during this week. However, one eye remains on what is transpiring in Los Angeles as the Lakers try to figure out where exactly things went so wrong for them so they can get around to fixing them.
One drastic step has already been taken, there will be a coaching change in LA with the franchise having officially parted ways with Frank Vogel. Naturally, with many questions being asked over the season about the roster and their ability to perform at the highest level still, there is some sympathy for Vogel.
However, many media members will likely now be approaching him to get some unique insight into what was happening inside the locker room. And NBA insider Bill Oram suggested that Vogel knew the team would have problems as early as the preseason when Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis first played together.
(answer starts at 8:15 minutes)
“I asked Frank Vogel, “When did you first realize this would not be a smooth season”? He went back to the preseason and said when Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis first played it didn’t look good. That’s before the regular season even started!”
Davis struggled to stay fit all season and Russ suffered a decline of some magnitude when compared to his one high level of play for the majority of his career. Whatever minutes they did enjoy on the court together, their chemistry seemed a bit off and they lost a fair few of the games.
Vogel can be quite candid now, and the dysfunction the Lakers have seen this season has been apparent to every fan in the NBA. Therefore it stands to reason that more stories will continue to come out, thanks to how interesting it has been to watch unfolding. It promises to be an exciting offseason for the team for sure.
