Russell Westbrook can still help the Los Angeles Lakers

Russell Westbrook’s fall explained

Russell Westbrook’s journey to rock bottom did not happen overnight. Westbrook’s haughty spirit and his numerous mistakes had quickly alienated Lakers fans and teammates.

The numbers will never explain what happened.

Westbrook is tied for the league lead in triple-doubles with last season’s MVP, Nikola Jokic. The triple-doubles are so commonplace they are taken for granted at this point.

Minnesota Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns said Westbrook was chasing for stats in an interview with streamer Adin Ross. 

"“He definitely gets stats,” Towns said. “He chases stats. But I think he’s a hell of a player, though. I don’t care what anyone says — you know how hard it is to get a triple-double? You know how hard it is? And he play hella hard. I just think that sometimes he plays too quick. He tries to do too much.”"

Here’s one more stat to chase: Russell Westbrook (110.3) is a better defender than Avery Bradley (112.5) based on their defensive rating.

Take that for data!

Speaking of more data, the Lakers give up the second-most offensive rebounds in the NBA. They give up nearly 12 additional opportunities for the other team to score.

Here was one of the nine offensive rebounds allowed by the Lakers in their blowout loss at the hands of the shorthanded Denver Nuggets.

Westbrook stared at Denver guard Monte Morris’ bright shoes rather than boxing out his man, Aaron Gordon (more on him later).

Literally on the next possession (notice the time on the clock!), Westbrook went right at Gordon to get his revenge. Gordon played great defense yet the officials bailed out the Lakers!

Westbrook foolishly got up to confront him for no reason whatsoever. Gordon didn’t even take the bait as he just stood there, knowing full well he did nothing wrong on that possession.

Westbrook’s pride literally went before his fall on that play! He has to go back to his UCLA days to redeem himself in the eyes of the Los Angeles Lakers.