The Lakers picked up their first victory of the season on Sunday night, and Russell Westbrook may have finally won over the L.A. fans, writes Kyle Goon of The Orange County Register. In his second game coming off the bench, Westbrook seemed to fully embrace the role, posting 18 points, eight rebounds and eight assists and displaying more energy and confidence than he has in a long time.
Westbrook also looked like an effective complement to LeBron James, who scored 26 points, and Anthony Davis, who had 23 points and 15 rebounds, giving the Lakers the Big Three they envisioned when they traded for Westbrook in the summer of 2021.
The performance was enough to get the fans on Westbrook’s side, helping to change an atmosphere that has gotten so bad that at one point he asked his family to stop coming to home games. There was plenty of support for Westbrook Sunday night, and the crowd responded when he urged them to stand up and cheer while Davis was at the free throw line.
“I love seeing my teammates flourish, honestly,” Westbrook said. “I get a joy by seeing others do great. My whole career, what lifts me up is to see others do well. And tonight was that night to see guys making shots, competing and that’s all you can ask for.”
There’s more on the Lakers:
- When Darvin Ham was hired as head coach during the summer, he promised to unlock the best version of Westbrook, Goon adds, and Sunday’s game suggests that moving him to a reserve role was the right call. “One of the biggest things about me getting this job was for him to get that respect that he deserved because a lot of what went on last year was not his fault, and everything, all of the blame, was placed on him,” Ham said. “And so I told him, ‘Man, just listen to me. Believe in me, bro. I’m gonna put you in a position to succeed with the group. But you have to put the group first. It can’t be about me or I or mine. It’s gotta be us, ours, we.’ And he’s done that.”
- The Lakers retired number 99 on Sunday in honor of George Mikan, the NBA’s first star center, Goon states in a separate story. Mikan never played in Los Angeles, but he led the franchise to five championships in Minneapolis.
- The NBA has issued a warning to Patrick Beverley for violating its anti-flopping rule (Twitter link). The league’s announcement included a video of the play in question, which happened Friday against the Timberwolves.
Lakers in the locker room acting like they won the chip after going 1-5.
Still no floor spacing, average/below average 3pt shooters and a glassy AD. Pels must feel pretty excited.
Bestbrook
Good for Westbrook, dude has been through the ringer the past year. Although, it has really mostly been his own fault, still he’s a good guy and a fierce competitor, so it’s hard seeing him completely bottom out the way he has lately.
Agreed 100%.
I am not a fan of his game, but I like the guy overall. He busts his ass every game, actually plays most games, and hasn’t been a pain in the ass for an organization by requesting a trade.
The guy was just a really poor fit for the Lakers. He didn’t sign there or demand a trade to LA. The booing should be directed at management for bringing him in.
Its only one game were RW was okay, the positive side is he was embracing coming off the bench. Still they are lacking shooting and Ham needs to be creative in his rotations to adress this issue the best possible way. Even with the poor shooting this team is looking like a top defensive team, so i think there is decent upside on them if they start clicking
Especially if the guys who are at least average shooters (Walker, Beverly, Nunn) start clicking. As dominant as AD and LeBron can be in the paint, they don’t need much to give them an edge.
Agree, and Reaves is looking really good, he should be taking 2 or 3 more attemps, and obviously he will not sustain that 47%3FG.
If healthy and clicking the Lakers are a near %500 team IMO
I also think people are way too down on the Lakers. I agree with a lot of what you both have said. They won’t win a championship with this group, but it absolutely is a .500 type team with low playoff seed potential.
They’re just going through a skid at the worst time because everything is magnified to start the year.
I’m still not buying Russ has turned a corner because I just don’t think he’s a winning type player, but we’ll see.
But that’s the problem. Anything less than another chip and the experiment is a complete failure, just like nets.
Lakers issue is they repeatedly fail to address their issues. Lack of depth after losing players? Cool let’s decimate our remaining depth for a top player but poor outside shooter in Russ…….lack of outside shooting? let’s trade for a good player but who is weak from behind the arc and hates one of our top guys in bev.
Russ isn’t the issue for the team, just a scapegoat. On most other teams he’s be a triple double contributor. Pelinka & Bron are to blame for taking a contender team and decimating it and then having to scramble for some depth they clearly don’t have.
I’d disagree that Russ isn’t an issue. He’s a poor decision maker and turnover machine. He single-handedly cost the Lakers a game the other day by taking a shot late when all he had to do was run shot clock. That’s really basic basketball.
I’ll give you he’s not the only issue though. The Lakers did bring him there after all, despite the poor fit. You make some great points that they don’t consider fit or depth when acquiring players, and that falls on Pelinka’s shoulders.
I never said he’s not “an” issue for the team, I said he’s not “the” issue. Russ is who he is, it was obvious he was never going to fit into the style with Bron and AD. So again it’s all on the construction of a bad team.
With regards to a bad game. We could say that about any player on any night. He isn’t the MVP player he was, but to target him over a player shooting 18% from 3 that joked he didn’t work on his outside shot at all in the off-season? (AD) all players are accountable but eventually the blame goes beyond. And it becomes painful to avoid the poor construction. None of the “big3” are playing well but that’s less of a point. Look at any other team with 3 overly high paid players(76ers, Nets, Bucks, Heat etc). They all have one thing in common. Better depth than the lakers, even if they aren’t the best fitting stars or if they’re playing as bad as LA, there are still good role players around them.
Anthony Davis is having a fairly solid season so far. His play is far from the problem. Even if he didn’t work on his shot from three range, it’s a little forgivable. That’s not his game.
Russ isn’t making plays a PG has to make.
Again, no argument though that the blame goes beyond Russ. Pelinka should’ve recognized this is a team in desperate need of shooting. Instead he just adds guys, and it’d be real hard to guess what he looks for when evaluating talent.
I agree he’s having an okay start to the season but if he was on Kobe, MJ etc teams he’d be ripped apart. The team has a glaring weak point, he has the shooting talent to shoot 3 at a strong efficiency, but to not even practice and joke about it. That’s not champ mentality, Bron should have said something. If AD at least tried to improve it he could be half a threat and drift out making space for the 400 other players who are paint efficient. I’m not blaming him. I’m just pointing out the fact for the good of the team he let them down on that point, but on packing stat sheets he’s doing well.
All 3 have blame to shoulder, Russ for his unwillingness to adapt to his age(it may be different now). AD for his attitude towards improving, both his play and fitness. And Lebron for trying to play GM and helping construct a bad team.
I wouldn’t be surprised if we hear an AD & Russ for KD & Simmonds/Kyrie rumour or two coming soon, if both teams slip too much. Both GMs are prone to irrational panic trades.
Champagne… nets around Russ and Bev’s necks celebrating…
Parade if they win the next game?
“I get a joy by seeing others do great. My whole career, what lifts me up is to see others do well.”
Yup. I’m pretty sure everybody believes that.
The Lakers have a secret trade deal going. With fresh unamed players that have not been mentioned in any talks at all. That was a push up bra and pancake makeup game if you have ever seen one.
Stay tuned.