The start to NBA superstar Russell Westbrook’s tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers has not gone as he and the organization had hoped it would go.
After struggling in the preseason, as the team went 0-6 and Westbrook didn’t produce much, things were just as ugly during the regular-season opener against the Golden State Warriors.
Los Angeles was unable to put together a full four quarters, as they fell apart in the second half. The Warriors scored 68 points in the second half, winning the game 121-114.
Westbrook’s struggles from the preseason carried over into the first game of the regular season. He had a rough debut, shooting 4-of-13 and scoring only eight points, going 0-4 from 3-point territory. In his 35 minutes of play, he added only five rebounds, four assists and turned the ball over four times.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Lakers’ LeBron James’ Candid Message To Russell Westbrook
LeBron James provided a candid message for Westbrook, essentially downplaying the performance. It is only one game and to focus on getting a smile back on his face when he returns home.
Westbrook’s response post-game was not nearly as upbeat, as he was disappointed in his performance and that the team lost the game.
“Um, I’ll look at (the game tape) and see,” he said when I asked if there was anything productive that could be pulled out of this performance. “Watch the film and see. But you know we didn’t win, so there may be some stuff, but not much. At least from my perspective.”
While things weren’t as good as Westbrook had hoped, there is still plenty of time left for the Lakers to turn things around. They knew patience would have to be shown, as they overhauled virtually the entire roster with only LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Talen Horton-Tucker returning from last season’s team.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Lakers’ LeBron James’ Candid Message To Russell Westbrook
For Westbrook, this is his fourth team in as many seasons. It will take some time for him to get comfortable in Los Angeles, especially with the adjustments needed to his style of play.
With some more practice time, things should start falling in line for Russell Westbrook and the Los Angeles Lakers and the wins should follow soon after.
