Los Angeles Lakers: 3 Ways Russell Westbrook can improve

Russell Westbrook must play better defense

It makes no sense. A player who brings unparalleled tenacity, energy, and passion to the floor on the offensive end, is considered by many to be an average player on defense.

What if I told you that when Russell Westbrook actually decides to play defense, he is actually a good defender.

Ask any NBA coach, what is more, important when it comes to defense, technique, or attitude, 99 times out of 100 they will say attitude. You can teach a player flawless technique, but if their attitude does not match up they will never become a great defender.

With Russell Westbrook, he expends so much energy on the offensive side of the ball, that he at times, takes possessions off on the defensive side of the ball.

In his numerous stops so far in his NBA career, with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, and the Washington Wizards, Westbrook has mainly been asked to be a difference-maker on the offensive side of the ball. While to a certain extent, this will not change with the Lakers.

Head coach Frank Vogel is a defensive-minded coach, and for the Lakers to fully realize their potential as a team, they are going to need Westbrook to tap into his defensive mindset and lock in when needed.

When he is fully switched on, Westbrook can borderline lockdown players. He has the foot speed, he has the active hands, he has the necessary length to disrupt, he has the tenacity to make his man uncomfortable and he isn’t scared to get in your face and intimidate his man.

If Frank Vogel can get Russell Westbrook to fully buy in defensively, the Lakers are going to be scary.