Lakers big man Anthony Davis will be a game-time decision Sunday in Miami, tweets Dave McMenamin of ESPN. Davis, who has missed the last 16 games with a sprained left knee, is listed as questionable in the team’s latest injury report.
Davis suffered the injury in a December 17 game when an opposing player fell to the court and collided with his knee. He was cleared for full-contact workouts earlier this week, and there has been optimism that he might be able to resume playing during the current road trip.
There’s more on the Lakers:
- Russell Westbrook and coach Frank Vogel both want to move beyond the issue of Westbrook being benched for the closing minutes of Wednesday’s game, writes Kyle Goon of The Orange County Register. Westbrook and Vogel acknowledged that they discussed the situation leading up to Friday’s contest in Orlando, which saw the former MVP back in his regular role. “I’ve been doing my job since Day 1 and doing everything that’s been asked of me since I got here,” said Westbrook, who admitted being angry over the situation. “And I’ll continue to do that for the betterment of the team and doing what’s best for us and finding ways to implement how I can make an impact on this team.”
- There were reports that Vogel received permission from the front office to handle Westbrook as he saw fit, but Vogel said Friday that he didn’t talk to anyone in management before opting to keep Westbrook on the bench, believing the decision was his alone to make, Goon adds in the same piece. “I’ve got full autonomy to make any coaching decisions necessary to win games. That is something that has always been persistent there,” said Vogel, who has faced speculation that his job might be in danger. “I do communicate with the front office on everything I’m considering and there’s a strong alignment there. What it ultimately comes down to … we talk about a lot of different things and I have autonomy to make the final decisions.”
- Stanley Johnson, who signed his third 10-day contract on Monday, was in the starting lineup for the beginning of the second half Friday, notes Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times. Vogel attributed the move to matchups, and it worked as L.A. went on a 19-2 run to take control of the game.
Angry and dismayed for not going back into a game?? How selfish and egotistical can you get? Anyome can have bad games and someone else could easily finish games off. WHY not cheer on the other player instead?? Westbrook again and again has displayed his selfishness, bitterness, and unwillingness to make any adjustment and sacrifice for the team. It’s too bad because he has no idea how lucky he is to be playing for LA and with Lebron. He will surely regret it later and reminds me a bit of what Melo went thru in NY. Melongot traded to OKL, then to Houston and nobody wanted to sign him for couple yrs until Portland gave his nba life back. Westbrook should be willing to play any minutes and do whatever it takes to help Lakers, so be can finish his career in LA and not look like total loser like Melo did for awhile.
I read only truth, well done.
I’m not trying to defend Westbrook, but I can understand why he said what he said. If he doesn’t say he’s angry it fuels the narrative that he maybe doesn’t necessarily care. It could be PR spin, I don’t know. It’s tough because he’s such a bad fit on that team. Westbrook deserves a good chunk of the blame he’s been getting, but I think Vogel is taking heat that should be directed towards Pelinka. They never should have dealt for Russ to begin with.
Westbrook is the one who wanted to come to LA. He has become another unwanted journeyman everywhere he goes.
Wall contract is the worst in the nba
Rockets want Lakers 2027 pick to attach Westbrook contract
I’m not a big Westbrook fan, but what was he supposed to say??
He’s been put in a scapegoat situation ever since he was acquired by the Lakers. I’ve actually grown alot of respect for the man how he’s handled everything.
Everytime something goes wrong in LA, the media instantly puts Westbrook on the hot seat and they come at him. He’s done as good of a job as any man handling it, and I commend him for it.
Good for him, the media needs to grow up, quit antagonizing him, and quit trying to isolate Vogel and RW as LA’s only problems.
This team is very flawed, even on paper, why isn’t LeBron getting a bunch of crap for not lifting his teammates up and winning more?!? Why aren’t they calling AD soft and fragile, and blame him as well…
The media clearly has an agenda, and they want Westbrook and Vogel out as the scapegoats for a flawed team with injury issues…God forbid they blame LeBron or AD and possibly upset them, they might lose their insider access..
It’s a joke..
it is sad… but look at pelinka…. i know caruso is out now… but pelinka could’ve resigned alex. and still sign everyone else. but rob thought his plan was better. look how great that turned out.
Pelinka deserves the lionshare of the blame, really. I know there are people who think LeBron orchestrated the building of this team, and maybe he did- but Pelinka still needs to stand up and say, “No, we’re not doing that.”
I don’t believe Russ can be a piece on a Championship team, but he’s been around long enough that you know what you’re getting. They gave up all their flexibility to get him, and now they’re cobbling the rest of a roster together after (surprise!) Davis got hurt, and (surprise!) an older LeBron can’t carry a team from start to finish alone anymore.
If Pelinka did say “we’re not going to do that”, LeBron would pretend not to hear the mumble and then remind him “he’ll not tolerate any more insubordination.”
You hit the nail on the head. I personally can’t stand these NBA media types especially the ones in LA. You know all of the reporting is nonsense because Frank Vogel still has a job. Any other owner would have caved in and fired their coach by now. I think from the very top, Jeanie Buss has no desire to fire Vogel mid season. Would be a terrible look for such a glorious franchise and she’s no dummy. The man just coached them to a championship and deserves a chance to right the ship.
At ‘rock bottom’ this team is still .500. The Brow is coming back. Establish some sort of rhythm before the ASG, gets some rest and start racking up those Ws. This is when all the experience will pay off. They’ll figure out the PnR defense they just can’t let guys like Dan Woike and Dave McMenamin pick them apart.
What Westbrook is supposed to do? Maybe play on D with effort, dont shoot pull up threes late in games, dont go to the rim without a plan? The amount of times he just goes to the rim only to throw up a stupid lay up attempt without a chance of scoring or a jumping pass out of bounds is hilarious. Also, after he misses a layup, he just puts his hands in the air and barks at refs, while opponents run a break. So I would say Russ is supposed to do a lot. PS Pelinka didnt make the decision trade for Russ, or save tax money by not resigning Caruso
Agree with this.
Will add: LeBron is having basically the best season of all time for a 37 yo, so I’m not sure how much blame I’m putting on his plate for this year?
Westbrook plays hard always. He’s all in every game every play,after watching a few Lakers games I can’t say that about most of his teammates.
I’d trade Westbrook for any healthy players
But not Simmons and Wall
I’ll take Hield and Barnes
What was Pelinka’s qualifications for getting the job in the first place? He represented Kobe.
Hell, who couldn’t represent Kobe and get him a couple max deals?
So….. who actually thought Pelinka would be a good GM?
I’ll wait.
I did. Pelinka started off well, as in attracting 2 stars and winning a championship, despite the Magic drama. That means something but many are quick to forget. He was a bit over zealous with the Westbrook trade but Kuzma and Harrell had to go. And if you think Buddy Hield is a championship player why don’t we look at his zero career playoff appearances. Pelinka isn’t going anywhere so don’t close the book.
If you’re a real Lakers fan the question you need to ask is, who would Kobe want as the GM?
The answer is Rob.
Its not Lebron’s, Pelinka’s or Westbrook’s fault. LeBron and Pelinka both know the way to win the NBA is with stars. Buddy Hield isn’t going to move the needle against the Bucks or Nets. To compete the Lakers needed another star. LeBron is 37 they don’t have time to wait it out so they swung for the fences line the Lakers always do and traded for another superstar. Thing is when you swing for the fences you’ll more then likely strikeout. As much as I dislike the Lakers I have to admit they’ve hit more homeruns that’s any other team in the NBA.
Westbrook is Westbrook and he only knows one to play. That’s play hard and try to take it upon himself to win games through sheer will. When you get Westbrook you get his unbridled passion and you have to live with the fact that always plays with an huge chip on his shoulder. He’s going to charge in there and hold nothing back.
One poster said here
Lakers need to assign Westbrook to G league, he would work on his defense and efficiency
He can opt out this summer then resign a new 4 year contract with Lakers
Lakers can save $50 million luxury tax next season
What we know… Westbrick can’t shoot and he’s opting into his final year.
What we don’t know is whether the Lakers will try to make the big trade at the deadline or in the offseason. Anyone that thinks this season is a championship year is wearing beer goggles. So whatever move they do make, it likely will not be for players on an expiring contracts without bird rights, because 19M of cap space next year isn’t getting them anyone significant in FA.
Wall really isn’t the answer bc it’s 1 for 1 salary wise. They need more than 1 player to carry the load next year. Maybe it’s CJ McCollum and RoCo (bird) or Nurkic. Pelinka shouldn’t have traded every role player he had for one guy on the downhill, that may be his undoing.
Beer goggles here. I don’t know I’m actually more bullish on LA now than in November. The greater risk to me was LeBron was no longer being a top 5 guy—he still is (health permitting).
There are enough question marks in Golden State and Brooklyn that I think *if* they can somehow just get a small handful of decent role players (who KNOW they are role players) around a healthy LeBron and AD then there’s a chance.
Don’t think they need 3 stars to win. But I do think they need to hit the buyout market harder than ever and will need some luck with Russ, either miraculously flipping him for something or him having a come to Jesus moment.
There are only two teams that legitimately need to cut payroll to get under the luxury – Bos and Portland. I think both do it via trade. I don’t know that the buyout market will be super robust this year. Thad Young is the headliner for that bunch and he may actually just get traded.
According to Lakers fans, Horton Tucker is the next big thing
According to Pistons fans, he is a gabbage player
#FreeWestbrick at least is playing with his own mental upsides against any adversity not like some HOF named Simmons.