Charles Barkley is the hot take machine of “Inside the NBA.” Him coming with hot takes and funny barbs is what really sells the show.
Sometimes those hot takes can be wrong and silly, but other times he can be absolutely spot on with the analysis. That’s what happened on Thursday night when the crew was talking about the Lakers.
They were talking about the current state of the team after Wednesday night’s loss to the Pacers. Frank Vogel’s job security was a major question after he benched Russell Westbrook to end the game and the team still lost.
Barkley didn’t want to hear about either of them, though. He insisted it isn’t their fault. Instead, the blame should be shifted to Rob Pelinka and the team’s management.
"The way they have tried to throw Russell Westbrook and Frank Vogel under the bus is just really pissing me off."
Chuck goes off on the Lakers. #NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/qdDx84S7Fj
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 21, 2022
“They’re blaming Frank Vogel and Russell Westbrook. Listen, the people up top who put that trash together are running and hiding like cowards, saying ‘It’s Frank, it’s Russ. You put all them old geezers out there.”
Sheesh, man. Barkley really went in on the Lakers’ management situation. He wasn’t done, though. He made another great point after that one.
“The best guy other than LeBron in the last month has been who? Stanley Johnson. And for y’all to be bringing in a guy who was on the street and he becomes your second best player…it’s ridiculous, man.”
I don’t know if Johnson has been their second best player, but he has been really good and an impact role player for the Lakers.
Barkley is right, though. The fact that Johnson is even in the discussion as one of the Lakers’ bigger impact players in recent weeks speaks to the terrible job the team did putting together its roster in the first place. That’s where the blame should be shifted. Not on Frank Vogel. Not on Russell Westbrook.
Just about everyone agreed with Barkley.
