The Lakers and Russell Westbrook had their worst night of the season Saturday in Portland, but the former MVP indicated that he’s still in the adjustment phase with his new team, writes Kyle Goon of The Orange County Register. Westbrook hit one of eight shots from the field and scored just eight points in a game that L.A. trailed by as many as 34 points.
Ten games into the season, the Lakers are still working on chemistry after overhauling their roster during the summer. The tinkering included Westbrook, who was part of an offseason trade for the third straight year.
“With that is always a struggle to make sure that I am able to be who I am supposed to be on the floor and that’s doing everything and playing the hardest I can possibly play,” he said. “And I’ve gotta do that for our team and I didn’t do that tonight but that is something that I will make sure is done moving forward.”
There’s more from Los Angeles:
- Anthony Davis left Saturday’s game midway through the first quarter with a stomach illness, but the team said it’s not related to COVID-19, per Dave McMenamin of ESPN. Lakers coach Frank Vogel said Davis, who was listed as questionable after spraining his left thumb Thursday, tried to play through the illness, but wasn’t able to. “I know this year he’s very upset with how last year went and how much time he missed,” Vogel said. “So, everything that’s 50-50 whether to be in or out thus far this year, it’s been, ‘I’m playing unless I absolutely can’t play.’ He’s just not happy with how much time he missed last year. So, if he can play without major limitations, he’s going to be in there.”
- The Clippers haven’t lost confidence in point guard Eric Bledsoe during his slow start, according to Mirjam Swanson of The Orange County Register. Bledsoe is putting up career-worst numbers in shooting, rebounds and assists in his first eight games after being acquired in an offseason trade, and some of his misses have been particularly ugly. However, he helped spark Friday’s rally in Minnesota and his teammates believe his game will eventually come around. “I don’t think people are understanding how tough it is for someone to come into a new system and is being expected to have a large role and to bring what he’s great at,” Paul George said. “It’s hard to kind of find yourself, find your way.”
- Clippers center Serge Ibaka may be ready for his season debut today, tweets Andrew Greif of The Los Angeles Times, who notes that Ibaka isn’t listed on the team’s injury report. Ibaka battled back pain last season and underwent surgery during the summer.
its more than chemistry. Its about having too many offensive players and not enough defense. The GM did a very poor job of building the team. He should have known Westbrook has always been only offense player. Making a big splash with a big name player was a big mistake.
The de facto GM is Lebron, so he should be shouldering some of the blame here. He pushed for acquiring Russ.
Agreed. LeBron is running the show in LA. It’s incredible – unprofessional too – ownership allows this.
Westbrook isn’t really good at offense either. He’s just not that good.
they should have just traded for Buddy Hield lol
Lakers may find a way to get Herro
Heat have no tax room to resign both Oladipo and Herro
Herro stats
21 points,
3pt 43% at 7 shot attempts per game
Third team offers some assets
Herro is miles more valuable than Oladipo at this point in their careers… They will undoubtedly let Oladipo walk if that’s the case
lakers have no tax room too so how do they sign him when many teams can offer him more money and a better chance at a championship. Don’t say trading Westbrook because as of right now he is a big negative on trade market.
I have no doubt that Russ works hard, but how did he go from a guy who would make almost 85% of his free throws to making less than 65%? He was one of the best in the league, now he’s one of the worst. I don’t get it.
And while he’s always been a bad three point shooter, his overall FG% has fallen along with that FT%. Horribly inefficient.
If Westbrook just concentrated on being a facilitator and not a big scorer the Lakers would be better off. Right now the Lakers lack outside shooters. Bazemore has done nothing. They are an old team with a lot of new pieces that either haven’t jelled or are a bad fit, make your choice.
Bledsoe stats
FG 32.5%
3pt 11%
Trade Bledsoe
Wolves need to upgrade roster next 3 weeks, otherwise it’s too late
It’s 2021 and not 2011.
That’s their problem – not chemistry.
Man, Russ will always be loved in OKC but dumping him on Houston and absolutely fleecing the rockets in that trade was one of the best moves Presti did next to the PG13 fleecing.
He just isn’t the player he once was and the Lakers won’t be winning anything this year. Too old and just not good enough to beat GSW or probably Den/Utah either.
The only recent trade between OKC and Houston in which there was a fleecing was when the Rockets traded two heavily protected first round picks and ended up with Alperen Sengun who was an absolute steal at #16 in the draft. Of course there was also the Harden trade back in 2012 which was even more one-sided in Houston’s favor. But how did OKC fleece them in the Westbrook trade? There was no swap in this year’s draft. So zero there.
The next thing they get is the Rockets first round pick in 2024, by which time Houston will be vastly improved. And when they get the other first round pick in 2026 the Rockets will be even better by then. And the other pick swap in 2025 probably won’t convey either. So a couple of mid-late first round picks for Westbrook, big fleecing there for Presti and OKC. Right?
Sounds just like Sillivan who kept insisting that the Thunder got 4 first round picks in that trade from the Rockets. OKC is a perpetual lottery team.
You forgot to add who we got for Westbrook and what we flipped him for….it’s ok. Your team sucks too, except you won’t have future lottery picks to get any better and you’re stuck with a boat anchor contract that you can’t unload with attaching draft picks to. But feel free to think houston is gonna win a championship soon.
This is exactly what LeBron deserves
why, because you are a hater?
Westbrook is still an all star. Personally right now he’d be better at the 2. Their team D is lacking. But that’s missing players and chemistry. It takes time and consistency to build that. Fact is all haters see is bad. When as bad as they have looked at times. They are 5-5 and only 1 1/2 gms out of 4th seed. Relax give them time. They are a contender cause of their depth. I still don’t see them coming out of West. But they can take out a favorite in playoffs. So you better watch them. I’d like to see Rondo and Westbrook together more often. Let Rondo run team. Takes the pressure off Westbrook. And he can just concentrate on scoring. Westbrook still has plenty of gm. But his shooting %s are concerning. IMO he’s trying to do too much in LA. That’s why I play him at the 2.
It is time to panic a little they have the easiest schedule and their 5 and 5 . Lost against one of the worst teams In the nba not once but twice . Already have their star players with injuries . Your suggestion of starting rondo and Westbrook together will be a disaster. None of them are good shooter or play good defense. The formation of the team does not mesh . Westbrook might have to play as a sixth man for it to have a chance to work .
All star????! C’mon…. Most teams would not trade their 6th-7th man for Westbrook.
Yeah you may not like him. But what does that really mean ???? Or say !!!!!
2020-21 stats …….
36.4 mins, 11.5 reb, 11.7 ast, 22.2 pts.
Please show me an another all star or a REAL all star who avg THAT.
2021-22 stats ……..
35.1 mins, 19.0 pts, 8.5 reb, 8.0 ast
Ask yourself how a guy who can’t shoot averages that. Bron will be the guy to bring Westbrook back to winning ball. He’s been on an Island for too long
At the end of the day, it is a TEAM sport. Westbrook cares about stats than winning. He pretends to be a god teammate, but he cares more about his stats. He takes rebounds away from his teammates all the time, and often stays in the game only for stats.
I rather have Horton any time of the day, and Lakers can get back on track once Horton come back and CUT Westbrook.
Westbrook may be an All-Star, but he is not someone who is going to help you win a title. He’s never been. Awesome empty stats.
LeBron as GM recruited Russ in as a friend and someone he knew was a good baller. He’s a multiple time all star, all nba, former MVP so on and so on but because he’s such a good friend of his he overlooked his inability to shoot the ball efficiently.
Lakers on paper are arguably the best team but in reality you have a 37 year old LeBron, a near washed up point guard that can’t shoot in Russ, and AD who is always injured or complaining about being hurt or something.
Won’t happen but there should be a Russ for Kyrie trade.
Russ Harden and KD all team up again, Kyrie back with LeBron and with AD.
For the Lakers, Kyrie is a better shooter and scorer which works well with Bron and AD.
For the Nets Russ gives them playing time at a minimum but he’s 100% committed, plays 200%, and won’t leave anything in the tank. KD Harden Joe Harris all those guys give them enough spacing to allow Russ to drive and play his game.
You say best team on paper. Then say Bron is too old. Westbrook is washed up. And AD is always hurt. So how can they be best team on paper???? Make a point lol
To me on paper means nothing because its going by yesterday stats. Westbrook and LeBron are now on the downside of their best years. AD should still be close to best years. Their whole team is made up of players on the downside but a few players.
Downside is an observation on age. Today’s players who take care of their bodies. I’m talking real athletes like Kobe. Play longer and last longer. Bron is one of smartest players ever. That alone will buy him another two yrs. It’s a team game. And Bron doesn’t have to carry all the wait. It’s why they signed all these players. They are not at the end in LA. Not this yr. I’m not even a Laker fan. This is a group that knows how to play as a team. They just need time to build chemistry. And I agree AD has to be the guy and in his best shape. And Westbrook has to fit in and play efficiently. This makes game easier for Bron. Lakers still got two yrs tops. But this yr will be their best chance IMO. Do not count them out this early. Maybe after 3/4 of season is thru. I see them as tough out in playoffs.
Unfortunately the entire team’s weight is on LeBron. In the past he could carry a team but with age its getting harder to play all those minutes. If Vogel doesn’t rest him more through out the season he will be burned out come playoff time. Making the top 6 in the west is going to be tough for them. That will add more pressure being a in tournament team.
On paper as they have the goat, LeBron with multiple MVPs, all nbas etc etc.
Russ with an MVP, 9 all star, 9 all nba, 2 scoring champs and 3 assists champ.
AD at his best one of the best big men in the game, 8 all star, 4 all nba, 4 all defensive, 3 block leader.
Then you have hall of fame Melo, near hall of fame Rondo, hall of fame Dwight, etc etc
Only two teams in the whole league have 2 former MVPs with the Nets and Lakers.
So on paper Lakers are ARGUABLY the best team yet in reality they aren’t playing like it
2/3 players on the top 75 of all time list playing and they stink. The list is a joke, and so are the Lakers.
& so are you!!!
Lakers are exactly who the Non-Laker Fans knew they were going to be. Laker fans are unrealistic and think just because LAKERS is on the Jersey, they will be reformed or transition into someone they arent.
FACTS:
Lakers are old
Lakers are trying to make Westbrook into a player he is not
Lakers ignored that AD was always hurt or unhappy and thought it would change
Lakers just are not that good.
I am dissapointed in the way the Lakers are playing. And all these injuries hurt the much needed chemistry process.
Looking forward to seeing Nunn and THT on the court. And AD start playing some real basketball instead of throwing up long distance bricks.