Things have not gone well for Russell Westbrook and the Los Angeles Lakers thus far this NBA season. Following Monday night’s win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team’s record is only 31-41. For a team many thought would contend for a championship this season, that is certainly a disappointment.
Injuries and ineffectiveness have plagued the Lakers since Day 1 of the season. The roster never gelled as they had hoped it would as LeBron James has missed 28 games thus far and Anthony Davis has missed 45 and counting.
The thought process behind acquiring Westbrook, partly, was to have another player to rely on should James or Davis be out of the lineup. He has struggled to find his niche all season but has started showing some flashes more recently.
Russell Westbrook has been the scapegoat for a lot of the team’s struggles this season, but he has never let it get to him. Against the Cavaliers he had a great game, scoring 20 points with 11 assists and only one turnover. All of the hate he has received is used as motivation for him on the court.
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“I live for adversity,” said Westbrook. “Just negativity from people, just outside in, and just constantly talking, because nothing better than shutting people up.”
Despite all of the struggles the team has had this season, the Los Angeles Lakers aren’t a team any top seed wants to see in the playoff field matched up with them. As long as James is playing, there is a chance that he can carry the team to some victories. If Westbrook has turned a corner and found a level of comfortability with his teammates, they are that much more dangerous.
Recent signing D.J. Augustin spoke about how confident the team is despite the record that they have. “Internally we feel like we’re a great team and we can do something special,” said Augustin. “Make a run. Get into the playoffs. And make a run in the playoffs.”
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Head coach Frank Vogel also expressed optimism. His job is reliant on the team’s performance for the remainder of the season, so it makes sense that he is still holding out hope that things can turn around. It has been reported that he will be fired unless the team can make a deep run in the postseason.
“How we’ve played up to these 65, 70 games, whatever it has been, (with) the trial and error nature of our season, does not necessarily represent who we are going to be in the Play-In game,” Vogel said, “and hopefully beyond that.”
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Russell Westbrook getting on track would certainly help Los Angeles get into the Play-In game and advance beyond that. We have seen that Westbrook is still capable of having some big games and the Los Angeles Lakers will certainly need him to have a few more if they are going to accomplish anything in the next few weeks.
