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

At the beginning of the halftime clearly show, Charles Barkley stated in passing, “I want to get one thing off my chest.” And as constantly, the TNT crew experienced to go to break because you know the men normally run the clock out with all the banter. When they arrived back again from break, they gave Chuck the phase and he went on to talk about how “they” have taken the pleasure out of basketball for Russell Westbrook.

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“It is really time for the Lakers to move on… They have taken all his pleasure out of daily life 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 initially 50 percent of the activity, Reggie Miller was chatting about how Russ averaged 18-7-7 final season, posing the rhetorical problem, “if you search at most of the league would you want that PG on your workforce?” The response was an emphatic Certainly. At this position it poses the dilemma, what other outdoors factors are at enjoy that could assist reveal why Russ is less than this kind of scrutiny far better but, what could possibly have induced Russ to have the lowest PPG due to the fact the 2nd yr of his profession?

Is it the strain of taking part in for the Showtime Lakers and having to live up to the greats? Is it for the reason that the ball receives operate via Lebron instead of him on offense? Is his fascination in trend getting in the way of his working day occupation? Or does the harassment that Westbrook and his loved ones have endured in his battle to suit in with the Lakers have anything to do with it?

I could see how all of people factors contributed to his lackluster efficiency past season, but I believe #LakerNation, and all basketball followers for that make any difference, requires to give him a likelihood to establish why he is a first ballot corridor of fame.

You do not just make an MVP overnight.

It usually takes many hours of dedication to your craft. It is really not likely that Russ earns that variety of award on this form of Lakers crew, but he understands what it usually takes to be excellent. He’s also in his 14th 12 months in the NBA, he’s no “young buck.”

The Lakers completed 11th in general in the NBA past time with a document of 33-49. Russell Westbrook performed 78 online games. Anthony Davis performed 40 video games and was out the rest because of to injuries.

Could you imagine trying to locate chemistry in your initial year on a crew with Lebron, when you had intended on getting that chemistry with Anthony Davis? There was no likelihood of the season’s sport plan becoming executed since of unexpected situations, so there is no perception in applying Frank Vogel or Russ as scapegoats. Regrettably, Frank Vogel does not have a probability to protect himself soon after obtaining enable go just 1 12 months just after successful a championship for one particular of the most effective franchises of all time.

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

In Activity 1 of the 2022-2023 time, Russ had 19 PTS, 11 REB, 3 AST. His game might not be quite at 33, but he’s normally going to give his team 110% to test and get the earn.

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Kyle Richards&#13

I’m a design and style thinker, a builder of electronic items, and a company believer in the power of athletics.