No regrets for Russell Westbrook after his failed attempt at the buzzer | NBA

“The Lakers are doing in Charlotte on a “buzzer-beater” from Russell Westbrook! So we would probably have titled if the shot from the Lakers point guard had not ricocheted off the circle. Led by two points (116-114) in Charlotte, the Californians had one last opportunity to pass, for the first time in the game.

In possession of this last ball, with just under ten seconds to play, Russell Westbrook therefore triggered behind the 3-point line in front of Miles Bridges, rather than attempting a penetration. His teammates, all camping behind the arc, had also made room for him in the opposing racket. An unoccupied racket as Hornets pivot Mason Plumlee was replaced on his bench by James Borrego.

This choice of shooting, the former Wizards player does not regret it. “I had just returned two (winning shots) just before so I’m willing to take the consequences of that one “, displays Russell Westbrook. His team still led by seven points less than two minutes from the end, he had indeed converted two of his three 3-point missiles to respond to Ish Smith and thus believe in the hold-up on the ultimate action.

Frank Vogel validates this last shot

The point guard also knows that before this beautiful sequence of address, he had made the difference with his aggressiveness towards the circle. Author of a ghostly first period (5 points to 1/3 on shots and -27 when he was in play), in the absence of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the troublemaker signed a second half of a any other caliber.

By penetrating at all costs, he scored 30 points (11/20 on shots), including 16 in the last quarter, the biggest offensive eruption in a half by a Lakers player since a certain Kobe Bryant. It is thanks to his awakening that the Lakers, led by 20 points after the break, returned to the game.

All that was missing was this winning shot to end the evening in style.

« The hottest player in the room had the ball in his hands, ready to make the difference”, writes Frank Vogel. “He was 3/6 from 3-pointers in the second half so he played for the win. If he had returned this shot, we would have spoken of an extraordinary victory. But it didn’t work for us. Russell was outstanding in that second half. He really gave us the opportunity to snatch the away win. »

Chambered by Miles Bridges

Like the Lakers coach, his defender on this last action, Miles Bridges, suspected this final choice. “I knew he didn’t want to go to overtime. I tried to challenge it well. »

Russell Westbrook would have liked to convert this shot on the head of the Hornets winger. A few minutes earlier in the game, he had suffered a technical foul for having chambered the Lakers point guard, who had failed to contain him on a baseline penetration. Charlotte’s leading scorer then lowered his hand to the ground to show his opponent that he was not strong enough to defend him.

« I think he tried to say that I was too small or something, but that’s not the case and he knows it. It definitely stuck in my head, I thought, ‘Okay, that’s going to be a good trigger for me’. I was able to step it up a notch, especially at this point in the game “, describes Russell Westbrook. Unfortunately for the Lakers and him, it was ultimately not enough, even if it gave Michael Jordan a few cold sweats.