The Los Angeles Lakers had a rough NBA season opener against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night. The Warriors came to the STAPLES Center and left with a 121-114 victory.
A big reason for the Lakers losing was that their supporting cast didn’t step up in the same way that the Warriors one did. Golden State got contributions across the board, while it was LeBron James and Anthony Davis doing all of the heavy lifting for Los Angeles.
The LeBron James and Anthony Davis duo were the only players on the Laker to score in double-figures, as they combined for 67 points. It was a rather disappointing debut for the team’s new point guard, Russell Westbrook.
Westbrook was acquired by the Lakers this offseason in a trade with the Washington Wizards. Given the role he had played on previous teams, everyone knew there would be an adjustment with the Lakers. Having three players that are used to dominating the ball in Westbrook, James and Davis is something that will take time to jell.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Russell Westbrook Gets Brutally Honest After Struggling Lakers Debut
In his debut in purple and gold, Westbrook played 35 minutes, going 4-of-13 from the field for eight points. He added five rebounds and four assists, but turned the ball over four times as well, finishing with a game-worst -23 plus/minus ratio.
While Westbrook would have loved to perform better, head coach Frank Vogel shouldered the blame. After rewatching the tape, he said it was on him for Westbrook’s poor play.
“[Westbrook played] pretty good,” Vogel said after practice Thursday when asked how the Lakers’ major offseason acquisition looked in his review of the game film. “We didn’t get him involved enough, and that’s on me. We continue to look at situations to make him useful and not pull away from what [Anthony Davis] and [LeBron James] are doing.
“Those guys obviously got going, but I didn’t do a good enough job getting Russ going, and that’s an easy fix. Something that we’re familiar with and keep looking at every day and get a little more comfortable with it.”
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Russell Westbrook Gets Brutally Honest After Struggling Lakers Debut
Westbrook is still feeling out his way and where he fits with his new team. He will not have the usage rate that he has had in years past when he was averaging triple-doubles for a season. But, he will eventually find his niche with Los Angeles.
Winning some games will also ease things over. Russell Westbrook is winless in his Los Angeles Lakers career thus far, as the team went 0-6 in the preseason as well.
