Finding a scapegoat

It has been a forgettable couple of weeks for Laker Nation as the team is displaying a disheartening trend.   Of late, winning games had been difficult, losing badly even to league door mats that the road to the playoffs had gotten bumpier, at best.

Of course, injuries and Covid had a hand at the team’s struggles but some of their loses could have been won games if not for some late game miscues and decisions.

Last season, the Lakers, with a tweaked roster, barely made the playoffs and exited the first round in a six-game loss to Phoenix.  A major overhaul was done when the 2021-2022 season began.  Only three remnants of the 2020 championship team remain today – LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Talen Horton-Tucker.  Make it four with the gone-and-come Dwight Howard, who just overtook Nate Thurmond at 10th on the NBA’s all-time rebounding leaders.  He’s 190 rebounds behind number 9 Kevin Garnett.

A high-profile team like the Lakers wanted to add another star to their two marquee players.  In a money saving move, they signed minimum salaried and over-the-hill veterans, refused to re-sign Alex Caruso and dealt basically the team’s depth for Russell Westbrook.

Davis had been injured since mid-December and the Lakers had only won 7 of their last 17 games.   It was hoped that Westbrook would make the team instant playoff contenders but it’s not happening.   Adrian Wojnarowski reported recently that Westbrook is determined in how to “figure s*** out and do what’s best for our team to win in the long run”.  The long run might be next season yet.

In a card game, a hand with more chances of a pusoy was dropped on coach Frank Vogel’s lap and he had become the most convenient scapegoat for the team’s troubles.  This week could be Vogel’s last and today’s game against Brooklyn might decide if he stays or go away.

Vogel does have some of the blame for LAL’s struggles but I would direct most of them towards ownership and the front office.  Can Rob Pelinka really make those questionable overhauls without the go-signal from Jennie Buss?  Oh yes, you can blame Lebron too, as it was reported that he wanted Westbrook in exchange for team depth.

Management just cannot fire themselves and to save their faces, a convenient scapegoat is available.  LeBron is Lebron and he stays.  It’s hard to fire players, easier to have replacement coaches.  Someone has to pay for the mistake of others and that someone is Frank Vogel.