Russell Westbrook is a player that has been criticized throughout his career, and most prominently this season. Many people dislike his high usage and turnover heavy playstyle. However, the criticism doesn’t necessarily mean that Russell Westbrook is a flat-out bad player. Even in a subpar season, Russell Westbrook is averaging 18.4 PPG, 7.5 RPG, and 7.1 APG.
The Los Angeles Lakers recently lost a must-win game against the Denver Nuggets, which has led to criticism from a lot of fans. However, that was through no fault of Russell Westbrook’s, as he put up 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists on 11-15 shooting. Despite his efforts though, that was clearly not enough to push the Lakers over the hump.
Coach Frank Vogel lauded Russell Westbrook after the game, claiming that the point guard is “doing everything he can” and that he’s “proud of him”. Russell Westbrook has been playing a lot better as of late, and hopefully, that continues for the short period that’s left in the regular season.
Frank Vogel on Russell Westbrook: "He's doing everything he can. … I'm proud of Russ."
— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardLA) April 3, 2022
“He’s doing everything he can. … I’m proud of Russ.”
Russell Westbrook is still a player that can help a team win games, even if he is no longer in his prime from an athletic standpoint. His playmaking, finishing, and rebounding are definitely valuable skills and perhaps he’ll do better next season, whether it be on the Los Angeles Lakers or elsewhere.
As for the Los Angeles Lakers, they should still attempt to make the play-in tournament even though the chances are not in their favor right now. If they do, then they could potentially end up making the playoffs. If they don’t however, they will need to go into the offseason and find ways to improve their roster. The current situation is clearly not something that will work next year, and perhaps some big changes are on the horizon.
