The Lakers rallied from 21 points behind and pulled out a much-needed win over the Knicks Saturday night, and they did much of it without Russell Westbrook. The former MVP, who was booed by L.A. fans in the midst of a terrible shooting night, was kept on the bench for the first 6:30 of the fourth quarter and all of overtime, writes Dave McMenamin of ESPN. It’s the second crunch-time benching in less than a month for Westbrook, but he reacted differently than when it happened against the Pacers nine games ago.
“I just talked to [coach Frank Vogel] about that I was upset about it,” he said of the Indiana game. “But I was more upset I didn’t win the game. But not about when or how he would do it. But it doesn’t matter. Like I said, it’s not about me. I don’t want to make it about me. It’s more about our team and our guys. Tonight we got a good win and now move onto the next one.”
Westbrook and the Lakers haven’t come close to meeting the expectations that were set when he was acquired from the Wizards in an offseason trade. L.A. is ninth in the West at 26-28 and Westbrook’s poor shooting has made him a scapegoat for all that has gone wrong. There have been rumors that the front office will try to move him before Thursday’s trade deadline, but LeBron James offered support after the game.
“I told him to keep going, to stop second-guessing himself during the game,” James said. “There were a couple of times where he had good looks, second-guessed himself and a couple times where he had some drives and he had them and second-guessed himself. He’s an instinctive player and he should never, what he’s done in this league, he should never second-guess himself if he’s put the work in — and he’s put the work in. … And I don’t need to harp on what we need to say to him. I mean, he’s a big-time player. And I have the utmost confidence in his ability, not only for this team but for himself, individually.”
There’s more on the Lakers:
- James returned to the lineup with a triple-double and didn’t show any effects of the knee swelling that forced him to miss five games, McMenamin writes in a separate story. “After the first quarter, the knee loosened up a lot more,” James said. “My mind loosened up a lot more. And I was just able to play basketball.”
- Malik Monk also had a huge game with 29 points while shooting 4-of-8 from three-point range, but as Bobby Marks of ESPN points out (via Twitter), re-signing Monk won’t be easy. Unless the Lakers can unload salary during the offseason, their offer will be limited to the taxpayer mid-level exception, which will be worth about $6.3MM.
- After eight consecutive All-Star appearances, Anthony Davis wasn’t voted into the game or selected for the reserves this year. Although he could still be chosen to replace the injured Draymond Green, he wouldn’t be upset about missing the event, per Mark Medina of NBA.com.
I’m glad that under the LA spotlight with actual winning expectations, Russell’s game is finally getting exposed for the garbage it really is. He has no basketball IQ. He can’t shoot or okay defense. He’s never won anything or made any team better. If you watch him play he always takes dumb shots. He double teams at the wrong times on D. He gives up the baseline when he should force to the middle where AD can contest or block. He’s a bonehead. Talking about he already a champion because he made it out of the hood. A lot of nba players are from the hood. Yeah you’re rich now. And look at how you dress. It’s embarrassing. Go to the hood dressed like like that and see if you get treated like a champion lol. I can’t stand this dude. The most overrated player of all time.
Ah stop your whining.
So insecure that you judge another man’s style.
It’s just a bad fit.
Insecure about what? You make a stupid personal comment about a stranger you don’t even know over sports talk? That’s weird. I’m talking about an nba player who’s a public figure. Sounds like you’re whining about my opinion of westbrook.. When has he been a good fit? What team did he make better? Can you make a basketball argument in his case?
Yeah so stop whining about his clothes. Or being from the hood. His stats are no mirage. Now his mix with teams n players can be questioned. But that’s not his call either. If anyone could help him. I would of thought Bron could. It’s hurt him he’s been out. Cause Westbrook puts more pressure on himself than media or fans could. It’s definitely affected his play all this talk about him. Unfortunately he’s fighting it the wrong way.
Lyman it is too early for me to be explaining irony to you
exactly. Westbrook can still give major value to a different team.
and even in LA has put together better performances than he’s given credit for.
he’s not the reason they’re losing games, this team has absolutely no depth or even a full starting lineup for that matter.
LeGTD & AD missing action is why this team isn’t working out.
only other good player is Monk who also needs the ball in his hands
not a good fit for RW.. Lakers much better off acquiring a pair of role players for him
Westbrook is a defense liability on the floor. He stands around by the corner. He would need to go to a team that has a top defense to not be exposed. Problem for Lakers no team is going to take on a $47 million contract for next year. A buy out is the best option for the Lakers.
It seems the reasons you don’t like Russell Westbrook have nothing to do with basketball. I don’t get how someone can have so much hate for someone they’ve never even met before.
Project Runway or some other fashion reality show seems like it’d probably be a better fit for what it seems like you’re looking to get out of entertainment. Sports might be too much.
I guess you glossed over the parts about how he has no basketball IQ and is never in proper position on defense and takes horrible shots. Seems like you’re the one focused on my fashion comment. But yeah. I don’t like that diva crap either. You like when he dresses in skirts coming to the arena? Is that your point? I don’t even know what project runway is bro lol.
Yes, I glossed over them because your writing is difficult to read. Try a paragraph break?
I can’t take you seriously. You’re not making a basketball argument. Just sounds personal but you don’t know me, so it’s just silly.
Thanks college professor. Again, not a basketball argument.
The fact that you use “college professor” as an insult tells me everything I need to know lol
What’s this got to do with the nba or anything basketball or westbrook related? Do you come to this site to disagree with people and pump up your ego? Please debate me on basketball or else I’ll just block your comments. I’m not on here for immature insults or weird ego battles
It was a sarcastic retort to your insulting comment. Since you’re clearly out to insult me and not talk NBA, I understand your presumption.
If you’re free to say stupid things, I’m just as free to say smart ones.
Dude he’s one guy. He thinks he’s clever got humor. He’s got no game. Do t sweat him. He could care less about facts. More interested in flaming.
You comprehended enough to criticize my writing and me personally. Honing in on my fashion comment of all things. But you couldn’t comprehend or acknowledge my basketball points, which were 70% of my whole piece? That’s on you then. You’re not making a basketball point. You’re not debating me about Westbrook or even giving your opinion on him. You’re just trying to bully me into not giving my opinion on this site. Well that’s not proper, and I will keep speaking my mind. Talk about haters, damn lol.
You’re right, I can’t comprehend your basketball points.
“He has no basketball IQ. He can’t shoot or okay defense. He’s never won anything or made any team better…He’s a bonehead. Talking about he already a champion because he made it out of the hood”.
These are not “basketball points”, they’re generalizations. And as soon as you mention making it out the hood, I understand the motivation behind them.
Stay in school!
Those are very valid BB points since the W-L matters. It just might be unfair to rub it in if RW was never right in the head in the first place.
Extremely well said Lil D
As a Laker fan I got no problem with your beef Lyman, it all rings too true.
He is a bonehead , he doesn’t understand a team defense concept (Vogels Mo) and is completely limited in what he can do w/out the ball in his hands.
He has shown zero ability to adapt. Ofc management has to take some responsibility to thinking he ever could but that’s a different matter
I went into detail about why I can’t stand his game and yeah his mentality that’s he’s already a champion in my opinion is a loser mentality. Never mentioned the word hate but you guys keep bringing it up. I don’t like his game at all and I don’t like his public persona. I think that’s fair for me to have that opinion.
Sit a few plays out bro
At this point I would trade Westbrook for a piece of bread
Have to be a loaf of diamond bread to match salaries.
I shared with Vogel that I was upset?!
How about coming out and saying “I shot 1-10 from the field and had almost as many turnovers as assists. I was a minus 15 on the court, by far the worst plus/minus on the court tonight. I played like sh_t, and Frank owed me no explanation because he is the coach and I am the guy that struggled. I’ll play better moving forward so that Frank never feels like he needs to bench me again.”
Why is it hard to accept that he was the biggest problem for the Lakers last night, and accept the benching. If he was a true pro, this wouldn’t be hard to do.
Exactly! But these dudes who commented so far just want to personally attack anyone pointing out how flawed westbrook is. Thanks for making an intelligent basketball argument. To me, that’s what I come to this site for. Like I said, under the LA spotlight his game is finally getting exposed for what it is. Garbage. He doesn’t know how to play winning basketball and then he’s justifies it by saying he’s already a champion because he arose from the hood. I’m not a lakers fan, but if I was that would be the last thing I’d want to hear from one of my so called superstars.
Some people idolize players so much they can’t see reality. He knows Westbrook is not the good player he once was.
You mean he once was? Triple-doubles is just a triple-counting-stat.
Garbage really ….. He’s in the history books lol. We get it you don’t like him. Don’t get baited by uninformed posters.
AL that was all undefined.
Amen Greg
Don’t forget the 2 free throws in a row he missed at end of regulation that would have iced it as well
Westbrook is a HOF but his Stats doesn’t equate with Championships…He has played with other Great players and it hasn’t worked….This stop in LA so far hasn’t panned out….TBC..
All players have stengths and weaknesses. Westbrook was always good aggressively attacking offences, but has never been a consistent defender or shooter. He also has struggled his entire career with making the right plays at the right time. As well, he’s terrible off the ball (ie screening and spacing). He has shined with teams that have let him run wild collapsing defences and kicking the ball and he could have had success with the Lakers doing that, even Lebron knows that, but Russell has never developed his weaknesses and has relied heavily on his physical ability.
With the Lakers, I see an aging guard who can no longer break down defences. They try creating openings with cuts and rub screens, but because he has never developed a shot to bait defences, even those strategies are failing. So defences are always covering the drive and he can’t consistently out manoeuvre them with speed and willpower. He has never been a good shooter and now for some reason he’s a worse ball handler as well.
In a league with scouting, analytics and reports night in and out, he has to be better. But he can’t because he should have started diversifying his skill set years ago. Even Lebron began adapting his game to aging years ago. Unless he magically develops a consistent outside shot, Westbrook may be washed up. I agree that they may have to buy him out to get better talent. They can’t even resign Monk and he is outplaying Russ.
FACTS ………. look it up
Russell Westbrook has averaged 17.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists in 36 games with LeBron James this season.
LeBron James Has A Better Record Through His First 40 Games With Russell Westbrook Than His First 40 Games With Kyrie Irving.
They still got time. Imo I always thought Bron could help Westbrook the most. He’s a HOFer who at this point is trying way too hard.
Monk stats this year
13 pts. 3.3 reb, 2.5 ast
FACTS …………. FACTS ……………FACTS
Question for the panel
What’s Russ’s next contract look like?
I will set the low bar at 2/20 Full MLE x 2 (I might be too generous tho?)
Does he just walk away at this point? Can he accept a role reduction along with the salary reduction ? I wouldn’t even wanna hand out the 2/20 in all honesty
*Great free agent class he will be up against as well
Lakers NEED to get rid of Russ for literally next to anything.
To say it just simply hasn’t worked out as first expected in an understatement.
Would be ringing up every team and trying to deal him.
Some ideas:
1. Russ and a second for Dinwiddie and Bertans.
2. Russ, Bazemore and the 2027 first for Fouriner, Kemba and Burks.
3. Russ, THT, Nunn and 2027 first for Wall and Wood
4. Russ, Ellington, Bazemore and the 2027 first for Josh Hart, Graham, Satoransky and Kira Lewis.
5. Russ, THT and the 2027 first for Dame and Winslow
If these deals,
1 I don’t think can happen cause it’s a return trade idk. But if possible laker should take.
2. Depends how desperate Knicks are to getting a point guard and another star. But Fouriner Kemba and Burks are all great returns for the Lakers. Particularly Kemba
3. Russ for Wall, can’t see it happening. Wood would actually be a great fit with AD tho.
4. Pelicans scraps. Would Pelicans be interested in Russ Ingram Zion and Big V as a future? Lakers get loads of trade chips in return. Graham can shoot and Josh does everything.
5. Absolute long shot and Lakers dream situation but terrible deal for Portland
Lastly deal 6
Lakers: Buddy Heild, Graham, Satoransky and Thompson
Pelicans: Russ 1st (Lakers) and 1st (kings)
Kings: Josh Hart, THT and Hayes
Pretty even deal.
Lakers get multiple pieces to plug around Bron or use in trades Probably start Graham Monk Bron AD Thompson with a bench of Bradley Heild Ariza Melo Howard. Think it’s a huge upgrade.
Pelicans swap out a bunch of average role players for Russ and 2 first round picks. Leaving them with Russ Temple Ingram Zion and Big V as their starters plus the youth of Lewis NAW Murphy Jones and Hernagomez plus the picks.
Makes them better now and better in the future with the picks. Russ and Zion attacking the rim would be entertaining.
Kings get rid of Buddy and Thompson and in return get back Hart, THT and Hayes and it only cost them a first. Huge win for them. Hart is on a great deal and is just a nice locker room player. THT has really good upside and I think would fit well in SAC. Hayes get a fresh start and competes for minutes with other young promising centres
Considering the Pelicans are currently the 11th seed just out of a play in spot they should be bold and go for it.
Russ Temple Ingram Jones Big V.
Good rebounding team, some solid defence and a couple scorers. If and when Zion returns would really elevate this team.
Plus the two extra first to help with the build.
Would then try get Christian Wood and Kevin Porter Jr.
Willing to give up Lewis Jr, Murphy, NAW and a first.
Russ Porter Jr Ingram Zion Big V
Alvarado Temple Jones Wood Hernagomez
One of my favorite Stephen A Smith episodes. “And the Los Angeles Lakers traded Lamar Odom FO PICKS?!?!”