Lakers vs. Warriors overreactions: Russell Westbrook bound to be a bust?

By Jason Reed | Oct 20, 2021

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 19: LeBron James #6, Anthony Davis #3 and Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers react during the second half against Golden State Warriors at Staples Center on October 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

1. Russell Westbrook is going to be a bust for the Los Angeles Lakers

This is the most popular take after the Los Angeles Lakers opening night loss and it is not hard to see why. Russell Westbrook was absolutely terrible in this game and was one of the main reasons why the Lakers lost.

He did not add much to the team offensively and and played terribly on the defensive end. He posted a -23 plus/minus in this game! No other Laker had worse than a -10 plus/minus. Plus/minus isn’t the end-all, say-all but that tells the story.

Combine Westbrook’s horrible night with the fact that he had a lot of doubters before the season and this is the perfect storm of naysayers saying “I told you so!” after just one game of an 82-game season.

Look, at the end of the day the Lakers do have some work to do with Westbrook on this team. It is a weird fit for sure and if the team plays like this in May then it is not going to get very far.

I still believe that the Westbrook situation will work in the long run, whether that be because he is playing well or because the Lakers give him a smaller role. While the naysayers were right for one night, it is too soon to definitively say this is going to be a bust.

Verdict: Overreaction

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