Lake Show Life
Fansided

3 keys to the Los Angeles Lakers unlocking Russell Westbrook

By Jason Reed

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 28: (L-R)LeBron James #6, Anthony Davis #3, and Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers look on from the sideline during the first half of the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on January 28, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 28: (L-R)LeBron James #6, Anthony Davis #3, and Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers look on from the sideline during the first half of the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on January 28, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

2. Keep Russell Westbrook off the floor in crunch time

It might hurt his feelings and he might make an issue out of it in the media but at this point the Los Angeles Lakers just have to accept it. Russell Westbrook should not be on the floor in crunch time in close games, especially when games really start to matter.

If Westbrook does not like it then the Lakers can tell him to go kick rocks and buy him out. He is not at the point in his career where he has any leverage and it is not like he himself is super important to the team’s success. If the Lakers are going to maximize him they have to keep him off the court in key moments.

Westbrook’s decision-making on both ends of the floor is simply too bad. Too often does he try to play hero ball, outright ignoring defensive adjustments and switches and ignoring what he should be doing on offense.

Sure, he had the big steal and three-pointer to send the game into overtime against Toronto where he actually was the hero. However, that one highlight (the best moment of the season for Westbrook) is outweighed by the countless mistakes he made in crunch time.

Plus/Minus is a flawed stat but when it is compiled across big sample sizes it can tell a bigger story. There were 56 players who had at least 500 minutes played in the fourth quarter this season. Westbrook’s -50 plus/minus was the fifth-worst in the league and three of the four players ranked below him were Sacramento Kings.

Westbrook should be playing around 24-25 minutes per game next season. Give him 15 minutes while AD is on the bench with less than a third of AD’s minutes being with Westbrook also on the court.

Home/Lakers News