Vogel justifies pulling Westbrook late again: 'Whatever the team needs to win'
Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel again opted not to deploy Russell Westbrook during the final minutes of a close game.
With the Lakers up six points on the New York Knicks with 5:30 to play in Saturday's fourth quarter, Vogel subbed Westbrook and LeBron James in to help L.A. maintain its narrow lead. Despite the Lakers widening their advantage to as much as nine points, the Knicks ultimately clawed back to force overtime.
Westbrook, who had five points on 1-of-10 shooting and posted a team-low minus-15 at the end of regulation, was benched for the entire extra frame. However, L.A. pulled out a 122-115 win with the star guard sidelined.
"That (fourth quarter) stretch was part of it," Vogel said about leaving Westbrook on the bench for overtime, courtesy of ESPN's Dave McMenamin.
"I think obviously Russ was having a tough night on both sides of the ball, and Bron was really going. So I knew the ball was going to be in Bron's hands, and I felt like we were going to get more from a defensive perspective and off-ball action with Talen (Horton-Tucker), so ... you just make tough decisions in the spirit of whatever the team needs to win a game."
It's the second time this season Westbrook has watched his teammates attempt to close out a contest from the sidelines. The 33-year-old admitted he was "disappointed" after Vogel removed him with nearly four minutes to play in a Jan. 19 loss to the Indiana Pacers.
The Lakers emerging victorious this time around made the late benching easier to stomach for Westbrook.
"The best part of this game is that you win," the nine-time All-Star said. "Guys competed. We won the game, and that's all that matters."