Scoring 175 points wasn’t enough for the Clippers to win Friday night, but their newly signed point guard looked right at home during the offensive display, writes Jim Alexander of The Orange County Register. Russell Westbrook posted 17 points and 14 assists in his first game with the team and received a standing ovation when he fouled out in the second overtime of the second-highest scoring game in NBA history.
Westbrook didn’t officially become a Clipper until after he cleared waivers on Wednesday following a buyout with the Jazz, so he had limited practice time to get familiar with his new teammates. Coach Tyronn Lue said Westbrook learned the basics of the team’s offense quickly and “he knew enough” to handle a starting role.
“Knowing (Paul George)’s plays, knowing Kawhi (Leonard)’s plays, that’s the most important thing,” Lue said. “So he picked those things up right away. There’s still a lot more that we can still incorporate and learn on the fly. But I thought he did a good job knowing the plays and knowing the play calls, and he did a good job with it.”
Westbrook welcomes the chance for a new opportunity after a frustrating season and a half with the Lakers. He didn’t mention his former team by name after Friday’s contest, but he alluded to having the Clippers’ veteran stars as advocates for signing him, per Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.
“Just the ability to be able to go out and compete,” Westbrook said when asked about his debut. “I think that’s something I don’t take for granted, being somewhere (and) given an opportunity to go play. Not just that, but the support of the organization, my teammates, the fans, overall, it’s a great debut but just didn’t get the win.”
There’s more on the Clippers:
- Lue said the first game with Westbrook was a “learning” experience for him in regard to setting rotations, Youngmisuk tweets. Terance Mann only played 18 minutes, and Lue admitted that Mann wasn’t used enough.
- Although the Clippers set a few scoring records Friday, they sometimes looked like a team whose key players haven’t played together very much, observes Andrew Greif of The Los Angeles Times. L.A. committed 25 turnovers, including four straight during a crucial fourth quarter stretch that allowed the Kings to tie the game.
- Ivica Zubac missed Friday’s game with a strained right calf and is considered day-to-day, Greif tweets. Lue said George is on a minutes restriction, but there are no restrictions for Leonard or Westbrook.
Clippers will be a tough out if they can tighten up the defense. They won’t have trouble scoring apparently
The difference between Lakers and Clippers
Russ on Clippers, R stands for respect
Brick on Lakers, B stands for bench
How can you Bench All time great on his prime?
Well he isn’t in his prime anymore ! Nobody even has the eight to argue that he’s still a star player ( other then in name only )
Russ prime age
age 28 = age 33
If you treat him like prime Russ, he is 28
If you bench him, he is 33.
He can still have average triple-double if you give him 25 shot attempts a game.
If Russ were a starter, Lakers would be more likely to be 10th seed rather than 13th seed
As a result of benching Russ, Lakers are so sticky with the 13th seed
Clearly you haven’t watched him the last year and a half. 25 shots? The side of the backboard would repairing
Lol
Any team giving 25 shots a game, will consistently lose.
14 assists is nice and all but not when you have 7 turnovers. Westbrook is still a negative player
17 out of 175 isn’t great.
So tell me again ….. who doesn’t need a PG.
Sure ,,,,Clippers don’t need a PG.
That plays 40 min.
scores 17 pts and has 14 ast ….
I pray Lakers make the playoffs…..
Fg% .53, Ft% 100. 3pt% .25 .
What’s wrong with that ….
25% on 3pt percentage is what’s bad with that.
You forgot 7 turnovers
Stat chaser , pushing bigs out the way to get boards lol. I’ve never seen a player get / average a triple double and simply not pass the eye test of making an impact in a positive way. Stats in his case are very misleading. He doesn’t suck by any means but he’s no superstar. Not even close
His triple double seasons should have a note next to them. Yes he put up some of the best numbers we’ve ever seen, but it held his team back every season