Why did Paul Westhead and Spencer Haywood hate each other? –

Earlier than the Los Angeles Lakers thrilling win over the Boston Celtics, as proven in HBO’s ‘Successful Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty’ Episode 7, there was additionally the second the place interim coach Paul Westhead explicitly benched Spencer Haywood, who had his fair proportion of a rant with the media expressing disgust in regards to the transfer. The connection between the 2 might be known as tumultuous at finest. For individuals who bear in mind Episode 6, that’s the place the cold-shouldering began when the participant mocks Westhead whereas speaking to Michael Cooper.

And in retaliation, he’s proven to be warming the bench, and when confronted, Westhead says it’s all a part of the technique — implying that Haywood wouldn’t be the starter of a person coming off the bench at any level within the 4 quarters. The snub continues in Episode 7 when he continues to bench him of their loss to the Indiana Pacers and the Detroit Pistons. Nonetheless, the expertise turns into a necessity after they face the Celtics, a recreation that Haywood had a job to play within the Lakers’ 99-98 win.

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What was the connection between Paul Westhead and Spencer Haywood like?

It’s onerous to ascertain the 2 cracking open a chilly one after video games. A basic instance of the soured relationship was when Westhead suspended Haywood in the course of the NBA Finals in 1980 forward of Sport 3. Averaging 9.7 factors and 4.6 rebounds within the 20 minutes he would get, maybe Haywood could have felt like he had sufficient to point out for, however clearly, their points went deeper and all of it started when the coach changed Jack McKinney after the latter’s deadly bicycle accident.

Did Spencer Haywood try to homicide Paul Westhead?

Such was the hate that Haywood even had plans to get successful on his coach. The ahead admitted to scheming to slash Westhead’s automotive’s brake strains in 1988. Right here’s what he stated in Rob Trucker’s piece for the Deadspin: 

“What occurred was this: I had attached with individuals who had been spurring on this discuss. “They will’t do this [stuff] to you, blah blah blah blah. You’ve received to take cost. You’ve received to do what it is advisable do.” So, after all, I get the concept, properly, yeah, that is the final man that pulled the string proper right here, as a result of I went to the workforce with three video games to go and stated, “Look, I’ve received an issue, man. You realize, I’ll sit on the bench or no matter. I don’t wish to be a disturbance or something, however that is what has occurred.”

He added: “I imply, there was a thought of this. It was not a plot per se that you simply went and sat exterior his home ready for him to return out. They’re extra like, you understand, “Spike his drink” or “Spike his automotive” or one thing. We did drive all the way down to Palos Verdes and we appeared round, and once I got here again I received excessive. My mom known as and he or she stated, “Hey boy, what the hell are you as much as?” And my paranoia, as I used to be explaining earlier than in regards to the drug, is that everyone knew what I used to be doing, together with my mom. So what was happening in my thoughts was unholy, ungodly, and never clear in any respect, so I knew my mom was onto it.

After I received again, I did some extra coke, and that’s once I hit all-time low once I realized what the hell I used to be serious about. It wasn’t an act. I didn’t try to do something. But it surely was evil intent. I do know my God is watching me presently. And I actually went off my rocker. I don’t even know the place he lived [laughs]. I imply, that’s the medication. You realize, they discuss. That they had me prepared to, you understand …”

It does seem that ‘Successful Time’ may showcase this as properly over the following few episodes. However for now, secure to say, these two simply didn’t get alongside.

‘Successful Time’ airs Sundays at 9 pm ET on HBO.