The Los Angeles Lakers were expected to be NBA Finals favorites once again in 2021, but as was the case last year, the team has struggled out the gate. Despite the vast amount of star power assembled in Los Angeles, the Lakers sit in eighth place in the Western Conference at 22-22. Amid their early-season woes, Frank Vogel also finds himself on the hot seat, per recent reports. Well, Kendrick Perkins doesn't seem to think Vogel is the problem in LA, and he didn't hold back when lambasting LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
“Frank Vogel being the scapegoat is ridiculous. … I want to see LeBron James and Anthony Davis actually come out and stand up for [him], because it’s not Frank Vogel’s fault why the Lakers are in the position that they’re in right now.”
—@KendrickPerkins pic.twitter.com/bn723RXGK9
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) January 19, 2022
Vogel has taken a lot of flak for the Lakers' struggles this season, but Perkins doesn't see their tribulations as being Vogel's fault. Instead, Perkins defended the Lakers' boss and demanded that James and Davis also come to the defense of their head coach.
As Perkins points out, Vogel helped the Lakers win a championship just two years ago. While the team looks very different now than it did then, it's hard to blame Vogel for some of the team's issues such as Carmelo Anthony's lackluster defense, or Russell Westbrook's questionable shot selection and proneness to turn the ball over.
Perkins' argument surely holds some merit, and it would be refreshing to see the team's leaders step up and accept more accountability. James did issue an apology to Lakers fans via Instagram recently, but Perkins is still yearning to see LeBron step up and show support to Vogel.
The issue in LA certainly extends beyond the head coach, but that won't prevent the team from parting ways with Vogel in efforts to right the ship.
Follow Us
Subscribe