For the second time in 2022, Russell Westbrook — the highest-paid player on the Los Angeles Lakers — was benched in crunch time. The key difference between what happened on Jan. 19 vs. the Indiana Pacers and on Saturday vs. the New York Knicks, though, was the Lakers actually won this time. Regardless, LeBron James and Anthony Davis aren't giving up on the nine-time All-Star.
Westbrook was not only unproductive through four quarters on Saturday — five points, 1-of-10 shooting, 3-of-7 from the line, four turnovers, a team-worst -15 — he was hesitant. The hometown kid only got worse as the game progressed and boos rained down from the crowd at Crpyto.com Arena. He became increasingly tentative — unsure when to shoot, attack, and create. He had four assists and six rebounds. He allowed his offensive struggles to negatively affect his defense. Frankly, it was tough to watch.
Plus, this came on the heels of Westbrook's head-scratching defensive miscue that arguably cost the Lakers a win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Westbrook's issues — including two missed free throws in the final minute as the Lakers surrendered a seven-point lead – left Vogel no choice but to sit the future Hall of Famer for overtime.
After Russell Westbrook didn't move from the end of the bench to join the Lakers in the huddle, both DeAndre Jordan and Avery Bradley came over to check in on him. DJ is now sitting next to him.
— Michael Corvo (@michaelcorvoNBA) February 6, 2022
Instead, Vogel tapped Talen Horton-Tucker, who was scoreless to that point. It was the right move: THT, who Vogel said he went with for his defense and off-ball movement, converted a key layup with 2:41 to go as the Lakers escaped, 122-115.
Frank Vogel on his decision to sit Russell Westbrook in OT: "Russ was having a tough night on both sides of the ball. And Bron was really going. So I knew the ball was going to be in Bron’s hands."
He felt going with THT helped the Lakers on defense and off the ball.
— Michael Corvo (@michaelcorvoNBA) February 6, 2022
When Vogel boldly benched Westbrook vs. the Pacers, it backfired. The Lakers lost anyway, Westbrook exited the arena without speaking to media or his teammates, and the situation created 48 hours of tension behind the scenes. To his credit, Russ responded with solid play on the Lakers' ensuing road trip. Davis credited Westbrook for being in “kill mode.”
Based on the postgame remarks from the Lakers on Saturday, the most recent incident doesn't look like it will cause the same internal friction. Westbrook was (outwardly) cheery in his press conference. He insisted the story shouldn't be about him and he was simply happy the Lakers won.
Russ on Frank Vogel's decision to bench him vs. Indiana and tonight: "He makes the decision that he feels is best for the team."
"I don't want to make it about me. We got a good win. On to the next one."
— Michael Corvo (@michaelcorvoNBA) February 6, 2022
LeBron James and Anthony Davis expressed support for the man they pushed the front office to acquired and to whom their championship aspirations are hitched.
“Just stay in his ear,” AD said about his leadership approach when Westbrook struggles. “It can be frustrating. The fans obviously want to see him play better. But one thing you can't do is put too much pressure on yourself. You gotta go out there and play freely. There were some shots tonight that he usually takes in rhythm, and he kind of passed up or hesitated. (LeBron) was just telling him, like ‘We don't if you miss every one, just play. Shoot your rhythm shots. Don't hesitate. Obviously, it's easier said than done, just because when you're in it you don't want to be missing shots. I mean, he doesn't try to miss. A lot of the shots he takes are shots he can make.”
Davis then repeated a common talking (praying) point amongst Lakers fans: For Westbrook to embrace the more in-between aspects of the game, such as off-ball movement, screening, hustle, and defense.
“He's just gotta stay out of his own head, just gotta continue to play and do the little things. When I was going through the whole little thing when I wasn't playing well, I tried to always do the little things for our team, the intangibles. That kind of gets you going, gets you in a rhythm. That's what he has to do. He's got two days to kind of just get away and try to lock back in come Milwaukee. But, as a leader of the team, me, Bron, we try to continue to talk to him and make sure he's not in his own head and putting a lot of pressure on himself.”
(Ironically, LeBron's on-court advice to Russ is the same wisdom Austin Reaves' credited Westbrook for sharing in preseason.)
LeBron James wasn't as expansive in his remarks, but he did signal that he would reach out privately.
“I just told him to text me later. I told him to keep going, to stop second-guessing himself. … He's an instinctive player, with what he's done in this league, he should never second guess himself.”
“He's a big-time player and I have the utmost confidence in his ability.”
All that's nice. Here's the discouraging part: Westbrook's game vs. the Knicks closely resembled his first with the Lakers. After that ominous debut, in which Westbrook was tense and indecisive, Davis said “we need Russ to be Russ” — aggressive, a killer.
AD and the Lakers have echoed those sentiments multiple times since. The Lakers will live with mistakes in the form of — as LeBron likes to say — “attack turnovers.” Yet, here we are. It's nearly the All-Star break, Westbrook — by his own admission — is still uncertain about his precise role. It's hard to pinpoint where progress has been made incorporating Russ.
At least they got the win.
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