After losing six straight games, it was only a matter of time before one of the Clippers’ big four was pushed to the bench. And while the fans were split on which player should have taken the fall, it was Russell Westbrook who accepted a demotion and he personally approached the coaching staff to make the request. It was a truly selfless act from Westbrook, and Paul George was among the first to give him props after the win over Houston on Friday.
“It takes a lot for his sacrifice and what he did for us going forward to try new things out,” said George. “Can’t say enough on the character of Russ and his leadership.”
Interestingly, Westbrook refused to talk to the media after the game and it has sparked some concern among Clippers fans that he’s not taking the new role very well. While the team did ultimately get the win, Russ was the odd man out on the night with just 8 points scored on 22% shooting from the field.
Will Harden Replace Russ?
The pairing of Harden and Westbrook is nothing we haven’t seen before. They played together on two other teams before the Clippers, including the OKC Thunder and the Houston Rockets during the 2019-2020 season. While they might seem like an ideal fit on paper, the two guards didn’t quite mesh well together on the court as they both need the ball in their hands to be successful on offense. Off the court, Russ and Harden butted heads over the team’s culture, which was ridiculed by Westbrook for being “casual.” No matter how much time has passed, there is no erasing the history between Russ and Harden and it remains to be seen how they can co-exist in Los Angeles.
According to some, the plan is for Harden to eventually replace Russell completely. As a better shooter and more efficient scorer, James is considered a better fit alongside Kawhi Leonard and Paul George and there is a world where he overtakes Russ as the team’s primary ball-handler. So if Westbrook isn’t careful, Harden’s arrival could signal the end of his time with the Clips.
Can LA Make A Run In The West?
The James Harden experiment has been pretty ugly so far. The Clippers are 1-6 in this era and many of their best lineups have been getting played off the floor. For his part, Tyronn Lue has been preaching patience to the fans and it’s not hard to see why he’s urging people to pump the brakes. Despite the struggles, incorporating a player like James Harden into the fold mid-season presents many challenges for the Clippers and it could be weeks before they really start figuring out how to play together.
The person to watch will be Russell Westbrook. Like it or not, he’s a crucial member of the Clippers now, and his playmaking, scoring, and tone-setting off the bench will make a big difference for them this season and into the playoffs. But if it comes down to choosing between Westbrook or Harden, the Clippers might prefer to keep Harden for the sake of maximizing their title chances this season.
We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.
Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.
