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Los Angeles Lakers: 2 ways to get Russell Westbrook going vs Phoenix

By Kevin Germany

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 12: LeBron James #6 and Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers on the basketball court together during the second half of a preseason basketball game against the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center on October 12, 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)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 12: LeBron James #6 and Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers on the basketball court together during the second half of a preseason basketball game against the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center on October 12, 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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Los Angeles Lakers
Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports – Los Angeles Lakers /

The Los Angeles Lakers and Russell Westbrook need to adapt against the Phoenix Suns

After losing to an undermanned Golden State Warriors squad, Russell Westbrook and the Los Angeles Lakers have a lot to prove against the Phoenix Suns.

The Lakers already know Phoenix is no joke. Phoenix won the deciding Game 6 in a laugher on their way to winning the Western Conference last season. Phoenix can say they are the only team in NBA history to knock LeBron James out of the first round in the playoffs.

Even as the defending Western Conference champions, Phoenix got even better this offseason due to the acquisitions of Landry Shamet and JaVale McGee. Shamet (backup shooting guard) and McGee (backup center) filled huge needs on their bench. They are everything the Lakers are not right now: organized, disciplined, and comfortable in their roles.

The individual matchups are far better for Phoenix: the Lakers have no answer for Devin Booker or Chris Paul, whereas Phoenix only does not have an answer for Anthony Davis. Mikal Bridges and Jae Crowder have a proven track record of success guarding LeBron James. Chris Paul knows how to guard Russell Westbrook.

Phoenix is coming off a tough loss against the Denver Nuggets. They are going to travel to the Staples Center looking to make a statement.

This is a statement game for both teams

Although this is only the second game, I am intrigued as to how this season’s Lakers compare to last season’s Lakers when matching up with Phoenix.

The Lakers are who they are going to be for the next few seasons. Lakers GM Rob Pelinka has no other viable avenues to restructure the team around the LeBron/AD/Westbrook trio. They cannot trade their first round pick until 2026. The stars are not going to be able to dramatically change their skillset at this point in their careers.

All three stars have always been at their best when they attack the basket and are surrounded by three-point shooters. The challenge for the Lakers is to engineer an offense that optimizes their mismatched strengths while hiding their weaknesses.

That is not what the Lakers have right now. LeBron and AD had no trouble, dominating the Warriors until they both ran out of gas in the fourth quarter. Westbrook could not uplift them when it matters most. It looked very awkward playing alongside LeBron and AD.

It was cringeworthy to see the “Westbrick” moniker come to fruition. LeBron James has done his part to encourage Westbrook after his dispiriting performance. 

"“I told Russ to go home and watch a comedy,” James said. “Do something that can put a smile on his face. He’s so hard on himself. I told him, ‘Don’t be so hard on yourself. It’s one game.'”"

LeBron is right. Westbrook is extremely hard on himself. Westbrook’s natural tendency is to respond to a bad game only by trying harder. No amount of effort or spirit is going to put a square peg into a round hole. The coaching staff is setting him up to fail if they insist that he can consistently knock down jumpers. They need to put him in a position where he can succeed.

I am surprised Lakers Head Coach Vogel thinks he can be a spot-up shooter. Vogel had engineered his defense to get the ball out of James Harden’s hands and forced Westbrook to take jumpers during the playoff series against the Houston Rockets two seasons ago. Westbrook ended up shooting Houston out of the series – and the partnership with Harden ended shortly thereafter.

Why would Vogel expect him to knock down jumpers now? Is he not allowing opposing coaches to do exactly what he did to Westbrook in Houston?

Here is how Frank Vogel can uplift Russell Westbrook against the Phoenix Suns

Russell Westbrook seems to value routine above all else. Westbrook always struggles to fit in right away to his new situation (the Lakers are his fourth team in four years). But when he figures it out, he settles into his new routine and balls out.

He will be asked to play a different role on the Lakers than he had in Washington, which was different than his roles in Houston or in Oklahoma City.

It will take the Lakers at least until the All-Star break to determine his best role. The Lakers should have already known his worst role possible is spot-up shooter.

So why did they make him stand in corner so often on Opening Night? How can the Lakers effectively use Westbrook?

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