Did Los Angeles Take Away Russell Westbrook’s Joy for the Game?

At the beginning of the halftime present, Charles Barkley stated in passing, “I want to get one thing off my upper body.” And as usually, the TNT crew had to go to split because you know the men always operate the clock out with all the banter. When they came back again from crack, they gave Chuck the phase and he went on to communicate about how “they” have taken the pleasure out of basketball for Russell Westbrook.

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“It can be time for the Lakers to shift on… They have taken all his pleasure out of lifestyle and basketball.”

Chuck goes off on Russell Westbrook with the Lakers pic.twitter.com/ktevt7J0ns

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— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) Oct 19, 2022

In the 1st 50 percent of the match, Reggie Miller was talking about how Russ averaged 18-7-7 last season, posing the rhetorical dilemma, “if you search at most of the league would you want that PG on your crew?” The reply was an emphatic Indeed. At this level it poses the concern, what other exterior elements are at enjoy that could aid reveal why Russ is below such scrutiny better yet, what may have prompted Russ to have the cheapest PPG because the 2nd yr of his occupation?

Is it the force of playing for the Showtime Lakers and owning to dwell up to the greats? Is it because the ball will get operate through Lebron in its place of him on offense? Is his desire in manner obtaining in the way of his day career? Or does the harassment that Westbrook and his family members have endured in his battle to fit in with the Lakers have one thing to do with it?

I could see how all of those variables contributed to his lackluster effectiveness very last year, but I consider #LakerNation, and all basketball fans for that make a difference, wants to give him a likelihood to demonstrate why he is a initially ballot hall of fame.

You do not just gain an MVP overnight.

It takes plenty of hours of devotion to your craft. It is really not likely that Russ earns that kind of award on this kind of Lakers workforce, but he appreciates what it usually takes to be excellent. He’s also in his 14th calendar year in the NBA, he’s no “young buck.”

The Lakers completed 11th total in the NBA last period with a report of 33-49. Russell Westbrook performed 78 video games. Anthony Davis played 40 online games and was out the rest owing to harm.

Could you visualize seeking to uncover chemistry in your to start with yr on a workforce with Lebron, when you experienced supposed on obtaining that chemistry with Anthony Davis? There was no likelihood of the season’s recreation strategy getting executed because of unforeseen situations, so there’s no sense in applying Frank Vogel or Russ as scapegoats. Unfortunately, Frank Vogel doesn’t have a likelihood to defend himself just after finding permit go just 1 12 months just after winning a championship for one particular of the finest franchises of all time.

Russell Westbrook has the most triple-doubles in NBA background (194).

In Match 1 of the 2022-2023 year, Russ experienced 19 PTS, 11 REB, 3 AST. His activity may well not be quite at 33, but he’s generally heading to give his workforce 110% to check out and get the win.