Two former Lakers scapegoats are proving they weren't the problem
The Los Angeles Lakers may have defeated the Boston Celtics on Thursday, but their problems persist. They are currently ninth in the Western Conference with a .500 record. LeBron James appears to be disgruntled with his team's performance. Rumors of a disconnect between Darvin Ham and the locker room have been rife in recent months.
Previously, the Lakers' regular-season malaise has been blamed on players like Patrick Beverley and Russell Westbrook. However, with neither guard on the roster, it would appear that blame was misplaced.
During a recent episode of "The Pat Bev Podcast," Beverley noted how both he and Westbrook are on two of the better teams in the league.
"When I left, they blamed me," Beverley said. "They blamed Russ. We're on some of the best teams in the NBA."Beverley is currently playing for the Philadelphia 76ers. He is ranked in the 88th percentile for defensive estimated plus-minus. EPM factors in the box score data, a player's impact when on and off the court, and is compared with every player in the NBA based on a per-100 possessions metric. The Sixers are fifth in the Eastern Conference.
Westbrook is also thriving. He voluntarily accepted a bench role to maximize James Harden's skill set. He's playing his role to a high level, and the L.A. Clippers are one of the most talented teams in the league.
So, with Beverley and Westbrook proving they were unlikely to have been the issue and thriving in their new situations, the Lakers need to take a look inward.
It's too easy to point fingers toward the coaching staff or individual players in the locker room. Instead, there needs to be an investigation as to why multiple iterations of this team have fallen flat in the regular season.
Until then, Rob Pelinka will continue to find himself under pressure to work miracles at the trade deadline. The Lakers will continue to hand over valuable draft assets for a short-term shot at success. And LeBron James will likely continue to grow frustrated at a consistent struggle to create a winning culture.
Los Angeles has some tough discussions that need to be had. Then, they need to take action on whatever those discussions produce. They need to become a functional front office who are aligned with their desired path forward.
A haphazard approach got them into this situation. It's going to take a logical one to get them out of it.
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