The Los Angeles Lakers have not got out to the kind of start that they were hoping for in the 2022-23 season as the team has dropped its first three games of the year. For the most part, this has looked like a continuation of last season, which should not be much of a surprise.
Things are not getting much easier for the Lake Show as the upcoming schedule is tough for the team. The season could start slipping through the team’s fingers before it even starts, so LeBron James and co. are going to need to kick it into gear and quickly.
Los Angeles may have its best chance of winning a game on Wednesday against the Denver Nuggets because of the latest injury news. No, the Nuggets are not losing a significant player. Instead, the Lakers may be without the root of most of their problems.
Lakers are listing Russell Westbrook (hamstring) as doubtful to play Wednesday vs. Nuggets.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 25, 2022
Russell Westbrook not playing against the Nuggets improves the Lakers’ chances.
It sounds cold but the fact of the matter is that the Lakers have been better this season when Russell Westbrook is not on the court. In fact, Westbrook’s on-off difference alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis is staggering. Without him, LeBron are one of the best duos in the sport. With him, they are part of one of the worst trios.
Heck, Westbrook pretty much lost the game for the Lakers against the Portland Trail Blazers, pulling up on an ill-advised mid-range jumper as an attempt to have a two-for-one late in the game. The shot was missed.
Joking aside, it will be interesting to see how this team looks without Westbrook on the roster. Los Angeles is definitely laying the seeds to trade Westbrook or simply tell him to go home until they trade him. Once Dennis Schroder returns, it will be easier to simply take Westbrook out of the rotation entirely and give Schroder his minutes.
How the Lakers can trade for Terry Rozier for just one first-round pick
The Los Angeles Lakers may attempt to trade for Terry Rozier this season and if so, the team can execute this strategy to get his price down to one pick.
Potentially getting to see what Darvin Ham cooks up without having to give minutes to Russ should be considered a good thing. This can give fans an idea of what this team truly is and how it can move forward this season once Westbrook does inevitably get moved.