Another Day and another Lakers internal drama story. No one likes losing. And when you lose as much as the Lakers do this season, chemistry issues are bound to exist. One of the glaring but not whole reasons for the struggles has come since the Russell Westbrook trade. Don’t get me wrong, the Lakers had issues last season as well but the Trade has hurt more than helped.
Last year, exactly on this date, the Los Angeles Lakers had 20 wins and just 6 losses. Whereas this season the Lakers have a record of 26-29. The Lakers have played far more games this season but the win percentage is nowhere comparable. And again one of the main differences has been the Lakers losing depth to get Westbrook.
Why is Russell Westbrook struggling?
Russell Westbrook has been playing along with multiple stars for the first time since his Thunder days. Before he joined, everyone knew that he needed the ball to be effective. That he needed shooters around him and players that can play off the ball. Westbrook is not an off-ball player. He’s an awful shooter and his percentages drop every season.
With LeBron always assuming the role of a point forward, the ball always goes through him on every possession. Meaning there is not enough possession to be shared with every handler on the team.
https://youtu.be/gzTmifNf2A0
Any time LeBron plays with other stars, 100% of the time, the stars assume roles they aren’t used to but always manage to adjust and help in winning. Westbrook is not flexible with his game. Russell is averaging 18.3 points, 7 assists, 7 rebounds on 29% from the 3 and 43% from the field. That’s a drop in every single statistical category.
All these losses will eventually be blamed on Frank Vogel and that’s why he needs to string along some wins instantly. And if that means benching a former MVP in crunch time, then he’s more than comfortable doing that.
“The need of the team always comes first…. We have to be willing to do whatever it takes to get the Lakers a win. Sometimes he’s gonna be in there for that, sometimes he’s not.”
https://twitter.com/TheNBACentral/status/1491604852161589250?s=20&t=yXQA61BUsglhkmB7Tvnm6g
Vogel made these remarks in retaliation to what Westbrook said after being benched vs the Bucks. Russell Westbrook said,
“I told them I wished I could help them….Unfortunately, I wasn’t in the game to be able to help them…..but that’s not my call. I don’t have to hit a benchmark. Or I shouldn’t have to. [Westbrook] earned the right to be in closing lineups. I mean, numbers will tell you. I don’t have to explain that.”
This statement will surely worsen the situation in the locker room and we are long overdue for a huge implosion from the Los Angeles Lakers.
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