An assistant NBA coach on a Western Conference team that recently defeated the Los Angeles Clippers had some harsh things to say about the team and Russell Westbrook.
The coach remained anonymous during his chat with Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.
“They have no fast-break points,” the assistant coach told ESPN. “There’s no early baskets. It’s like, ‘OK, it’s your turn. I got an iso, now it’s my turn.’ How do you get a rhythm? Russell’s not that player that he used to be, but he’s still Russell Westbrook and he’s still a former MVP. He wants touches and he wants to make things happen. I don’t know, it just sort of seems like a bad mix to me.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles Clippers Updates
The Clippers are on a six-game losing streak. They are 0-5 with James Harden in the lineup and 3-7 overall on the season.
Westbrook is averaging 14.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.9 steals, 0.3 blocks and 3.3 turnovers on the season for the Clippers while shooting 46.5% from the field, 31.3% from beyond the arc and 58.8% from the free-throw line.
“Every night it could be different,” Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue said of Westbrook’s usage. “But we need his leadership every single night. We need the way he plays every single night, his passion on the floor. … He understands that. And [we have] a constant dialogue and communicating.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles Clippers Updates
Westbrook has requested to come off the bench to help the Clippers’ first unit establish some continuity, according to Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report.
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