Draymond Green’s defense outright disrespects Lakers’ Russell Westbrook

It’s going to take time for the Los Angeles Lakers roster to gel, so their opening night matchup against the Golden State Warriors represented a steep challenge. Surely enough, the Lakers played from behind throughout the game and were ultimately out-classed in the fourth quarter en route to a 123-109 loss.

Fittingly, it took 60 minutes for the Lakers’ shooting struggles to rear their ugly head, as they finished 10-of-40 from three in the game, with Russell Westbrook, Anthony Davis, Patrick Beverley, Lonnie Walker, Juan Toscano-Anderson and Austin Reaves going a combined 2-of-19 (!) from beyond the arc.

The performance prompted LeBron James, who went for 31 points on 12-of-25 shooting, to unleash a brutally honest quote postgame, saying “we’re not a team that’s constructed of great shooting and that’s just the truth of the matter.”

All in all, it was a dreadful shooting display from the Lakers.

While Westbrook struggled with his jumper, he actually played an efficient game overall. However, the nine-time All-Star had an ugly moment in the third quarter when Draymond Green dared him to take an uncontested corner three.

That shot missed everything: rim, backboard and all.

Warriors’ Draymond Green’s defense on Russell Westbrook outright disrespected the Lakers guard.

This is as bad as it gets. Green, one of the game’s most tenacious defenders, seemingly didn’t give a second thought to closing out on Westbrook. Why would he? Westbrook is a notoriously poor three-point shooter, though the Lakers are somehow convinced he can be sufficient from the corner. Green took his chances that Westbrook would miss and positioned himself for a potential long rebound.

Green played it perfectly. The rebound just went long on the other side of the court because Westbrook chucked up an air ball.

This possession obviously didn’t define Westbrook’s performance, but it just encapsulates how the player’s shooting deficiencies limit the Lakers’ offense. There were eight seconds remaining on the shot clock when Westbrook’s shot went up. Plenty of time to break down the defense and kick out to an open shooter.

We’d have settled for Russ’ signature bank shot from the wing. Anything but a forced corner three because Draymond disrespected him.

It’s unfortunate because Westbrook played reasonably well. 19 points on 12 shots and 11 rebounds is a solid night out. We’d like more assists (just three), but it speaks volumes that his -6 was the second-best amongst LA’s starters.

Having said that, you can expect other teams to mirror Draymond’s perimeter defense on Westbrook. In other words, the Lakers will continue struggling to space the floor while the former MVP is on the court.

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