Faced with criticism from Magic Johnson, Russell Westbrook is the ostrich | NBA

The ‘Purple-and-Gold’ boat is starting to rock in earnest as the numbers and warnings pile up in the face of a situation that is becoming increasingly urgent. It is not yet known if the Lakers hit rock bottom last night, losing 37 points on the floor of Denver. Still, the formation of LeBron James, whose team has a negative record, a first in his career at this stage of the regular season since his rookie year, has fallen very low.

A new milestone was crossed in the process since it was the legend of the franchise, Magic Johnson in person, who took his smartphone to split a tweet expressing his incomprehension in the face of this strange season of his team. of heart.

“As Lakers fans, we can accept being outclassed, but we deserve better than a lack of effort and a lack of sense of urgency. Owner Jeanie Buss, you deserve better,” tweeted the account to the more than 5 million followers.

“He is not there, around us, every day. He is not aware of what is going on internally and he does not try to understand”

Invited to react when LeBron James did not appear before the press, Russell Westbrook and Dwight Howard had to face a new difficult exercise trying not to make additional waves in the face of this new start of controversy.

“I have no reaction”, a lancé Russell Westbrook. “Everyone has the right, in this world, to give their opinion. It doesn’t matter what she is. You can take it and use it, pass it through one ear and out the other, or not respond to it. Magic is entitled to its opinion. And he is not there, around us, every day. He is not aware of what is going on internally and he does not try to understand. But I have no answer to give. As I said, everyone in this world is entitled to their opinion and that’s it”.

The Howard Method: Staying Positive

The term “overclassed” used by Magic Johnson, however, sums up well how the Lakers were dominated this night. And that, Russell Westbrook could not elude it.

“We just have to play hard. Sometimes the systems and how you play don’t really matter. You just have to play hard. The teams play harder than us, it’s as simple as that.”, he added.

Dwight Howard meanwhile conceded that even away from the band, Magic Johnson’s tweet had some truth to it.

“There’s not much I can really say about it. We’ve said it all year, so I shouldn’t have to repeat it. But, you know, he’s right.”, recognized the pivot before recalling the ingredients necessary for a way out of the crisis. “You can’t stop believing that you’re going to win and say, ‘Ah, and then shit, we give up.’ We know we put ourselves in a difficult situation, but it only takes a few games, good energy and a little push. We just have to stay as positive as possible.”