Los Angeles Lakers blame pie for abysmal 2021-22 season

Russell Westbrook: 17%

Despite being set up for failure, there’s no way it completely absolves this individual. Russell Westbrook has had about as bad a season for a former MVP in this league on and off the court that I can remember. Sadly for the first time this year, some postgame comments have matched his crazed abundance of mistakes on the court. He’s really unraveled to a degree.

But more importantly and tangibly on the court, his jump shot has become detrimental. He never had the motor skills or body control with that athleticism to be a great or even good all-around shooter. But a short time ago, at least he could hit a mid-range pull-up somewhat routinely.

Now he’s sending balls at the top of the backboard or on the other side of it routinely. Westbrick is more than appropriate don’t get me started on that. The lack of self-awareness and inability to swallow pride on the offensive end is what the fair criticism comes down to. If the front office had brought in more capable ancillary pieces and he was still playing this inefficiently and hurting the team this much, he’d share close to 40 or maybe even 50% of the blame perhaps.

But alas he’s up against it and still giving 18 points, seven boards and seven assists a night given the obstacles. In fairness to him, he’s actually put together a stretch of efficient shooting nights in recent weeks. He’s a somewhat similar player as a few years ago except now it’s really pulling teeth for him trying to accumulate points. And, it’s becoming practically impossible at times in the half court which is awful as you’re an aging point guard. Combined with being a free throw liability.

He has a 47 million dollar base salary next year and you have to move him after year one. Sadly for the hometown kid, this trade has been a sucker punch to the organization and facilitated a fall from grace after winning the title just two seasons ago. You can’t get a thing, a smidge of real NBA value back with that cap hit. Though he’s a free agent in 2023 and a basement dweller could take him on I believe.

We’ll see, but frankly either way the partnership has been a massive failure. There were far better alternatives out there as aforementioned. Namely Kyle Lowry in terms of his position, whose style is the antithesis of Westbrook’s fiasco show.