LeBron James’ Honest Assessment of Russell Westbrook After Brutal Shooting vs Nets
The Los Angeles Lakers lost the Christmas Day game to the Brooklyn Nets. It was a big blow for the team, but players are still confident about their performance. You will never ever see Lakers players get frustrated following a 122-115 loss. Suffering a loss never demotivates Lakers players. That’s exactly what LeBron James said following the game. Great LeBron talked about Russell Westbrook and his shooting.
The newly-added Lakers veteran shot 4-of-20 from the field. Broddie finished the night with 13 points, 11 assists, and 12 rebounds. He didn’t look like him, but LeBron is fine with this. He’d never say anything bad about his teammate.
“I think he had an off-shooting night,” LeBron said. “I think he missed so many shots around the rim that he’s been accustomed to making throughout his career and throughout this season. So, not worried about too much of that.”
LeBron, Lakers players to see more of Russell Westbrook and his shooting
Frank Vogel is still out after entering COVID protocols. David Fizdale stepped in as a head coach for the team. He did discuss Broddie’s struggles on the field.
“A big part of it is he just wants it so bad,” Fizdale said. “I mean you can just see it in him, everybody does. He wants it so bad. And I know that’s just hard for him when it doesn’t work out. And I know he cares like crazy. … I just want him to take a lot of that pressure off himself, keep attacking, keep playing the way we know he can.”
LeBron has great words for Westbrook’s effort. His rebounding has improved significantly and players benefit from his playmaking. Hopefully, the team will get more of this in the upcoming games.
The Lakers would have a pretty healthy lead if Russell Westbrook had just converted all of his uncontested layups.
— Bill Oram (@billoram) December 26, 2021
Russell Westbrook getting stuffed by the rim on a dunk attempt ? pic.twitter.com/M72D7uaNfh
— Billy Heyen (@BillyHeyen) December 26, 2021
“His decision-making was spectacular tonight,” said LeBron. “He had 12 rebounds, five of them offensive. And we know we’re not one of the better offensive rebounding teams in this league. He gave us extra possessions.”
It stinks either way, but from a forward-looking standpoint to me there’s a huge difference between Russ going 4/15 at the rim being the point of angst and him bricking a bunch of midrange jumpers he’s settling for like he was earlier in the year in bad games
— Cranjis McBasketball (@Tim_NBA) December 26, 2021
LA lost a lot of games. Anthony Davis is still out. His absence impacts the game. LA needs to have him back in the game before it’s too late.