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Los Angeles Lakers: 3 reasons why Russell Westbrook will work in LA

By Jason Reed

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - JANUARY 24: Russell Westbrook #4 of the Washington Wizards dribbles the ball against the San Antonio Spurs in the first half at AT&T Center on January 24, 2021 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - JANUARY 24: Russell Westbrook #4 of the Washington Wizards dribbles the ball against the San Antonio Spurs in the first half at AT&T Center on January 24, 2021 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

2. Russell Westbrook simply has to be a better version of Rajon Rondo and Dennis Schroder on the Los Angeles Lakers

Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer first brought this point up on an episode of the Bill Simmons Podcast and to be completely transparent, that is when it clicked together in my head. O’Connor is completely right: Russell Westbrook simply has to be a better version of Rajon Rondo and Dennis Schroder.

What a lot of naysayers are overlooking with Westbrook is the fact that the Lakers do not need him to be MVP Westbrook, they do not need him to be the second-best player on the team, heck, he does not even have to be an All-NBA guy.

There is a route where the Lakers have a ton of success, Westbrook looks great, they win the title and he does not even make the all-star team. All they need Westbrook to do is be a better version of Rondo and Schroder as that secondary playmaker/third scorer (which is what Rondo was in the playoffs).

Westbrook can obviously do that and he is overqualified to do that as well. The thought that he is going to be worse than either Rondo or Schroder in that role is silly.

Of course, the Lakers have to get Westbrook to buy into that role and that is where the biggest x-factor lies. While Westbrook has not necessarily been a great team player in the past, LeBron James is the most respected guy in the league and if there is anyone who can sit him down, explain to him what they need him to do and him actually listen, it is LeBron.

There are some defensive issues but I can see Westbrook being as good as either of those two were on the defensive end. Frank Vogel is a defensive wizard and as long as Westbrook buys into the defensive philosophy then he shouldn’t be terrible. He is too athletic.

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