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In the 2024 playoffs, first-round series are still ongoing as teams vie for a spot in the conference semi-finals. Unfortunately, some teams have already been eliminated, including the Lakers and Suns. Following their early exits, NBA media members are calling for the firing of Darvin Ham and Frank Vogel.
During last night’s TNT broadcast, analyst Charles Barkley addressed the critics advocating for the dismissal of Ham and Vogel. Barkley emphasized that players should also take responsibility for the team’s performance, rather than solely blaming the head coach. When top teams like the Lakers and Suns falter in the playoffs, the blame often falls on the coach, a notion Barkley refutes.
Charles Barkley’s Take on Criticism of NBA Head Coaches
Chuck expresses his views on coaching in the NBA: pic.twitter.com/MnnDZrQr9s
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 2, 2024
Both the Lakers and Suns were eliminated in the first round of the 2024 playoffs, falling short of expectations as potential contenders in the Western Conference. The Lakers, seeded 7th in the West, faced the Nuggets and ultimately lost the series in five games, ending LeBron James and the Lakers’ season disappointingly. Despite LeBron’s past success, the Lakers’ quest for an NBA Finals title in 2024 fell short.
The Phoenix Suns, led by Kevin Durant, suffered a similar fate, being swept in four games by the Minnesota Timberwolves and their rising star Anthony Edwards. Even with the Suns assembling a strong trio including Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal, they couldn’t advance past the first round. The early exits of the Lakers and Suns have prompted calls for the firing of Darvin Ham and Frank Vogel, indicating a potential offseason change for both coaches. However, Charles Barkley criticizes those quick to call for the heads of head coaches.
Charles Barkley doesn’t hold back in his critique of the backlash faced by Frank Vogel and Darvin Ham after their teams’ playoff elimination.
(via @awfulannouncing) pic.twitter.com/Yc0bjHJW8U
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) May 2, 2024
The debate continues over whether Darvin Ham and Frank Vogel deserve more time to prove themselves as the right head coaches. Ham has led the Lakers for two seasons, with both years ending in a winning record. Despite a Conference Finals appearance in 2023, the Lakers fell short in 2024. As for Vogel, it is his first season as the head coach in Phoenix, finishing with a 49-33 record and a first-round exit in the playoffs against the Timberwolves. The future of both coaches remains uncertain as the Lakers and Suns weigh their decisions this offseason.
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