Everything that can happen in a match He passed in the Crypto Arena. Just as the Lakers are experiencing everything that could happen to them in a season marked by (many, a lot of) own mistakes and a huge amount of bad luck. Since we already know how these things are, LeBron James looked at the standings and found it excessive to be with the worst record of his career on the best team in history. And he decided that his left knee didn’t hurt as much and that it was time to go back to playing basketball. And, either because they were right or because they needed to force, the Lakers ate and drank from their leader to win a game in which they were losing 21 points, but also in which they were winning by 9 (108-99) with just over 2 minutes to go and that they resolved in overtime with a quintet that included LeBron, Davis, Horton-Tucker, Monk and Ariza. A concatenation of madness that had as its epicenter the terrible performance of a Russell Westbrook who has hit rock bottom. Let’s hope.
not to expect something like that: the point guard’s torture is being almost excessive in an arduous and busy season, embarrassing and demeaning. Westbrook has stated time and time again that he has to keep improving and that he is focused on helping the team., being discreet with the press and without making excuses. But nevertheless, There are few excuses that we can give to one starry star, a player who will pocket 44 million dollars this course and who will have a player option of 47 for the one who comes. An option that he will surely exercise, since his market value is going down like the shares of a company full of rotten products. A bad season has turned into a worse one, second consecutive absence of the All Star with all deserved and a constant negative judgment by public opinion, that place where the battles that decide the wars are won and lost. “This is about accepting the responsibilities and consequences of your actions. If you are going to change, you have to look in the mirror and demand more of yourself.LeBron said after the crash.Hint?
Westbrook finished the game with 5 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal and 1 block. Weak numbers that get worse if we keep looking at the box score: 4 losses, 1 of 10 in field goals, 0 of 3 in triples and 3 of 7 in free throws (he moves around 80% during his career). And, if instead of the statistics we look at the game, the feeling of anguish is even greater: almost embarrassing floating defenses, apathy, no defensive attitude (no help, no lateral movements and passivity to cover the cuts), indolence, a certain sadness and the feeling that the star has hit rock bottom and cannot mentally manage what is coming his way. In the first quarter, the point guard scored his only field goal; in the second, 0 of 5 shots and 3 losses that caused the Los Angeles debacle. In one of those shots of his that didn’t even touch a rim, the representation of agony came, with the audience at the Staples Center (which is no longer called that) booing Russ, an ordeal in his hometown. Frank Vogel still put him at the end of regulation time, but was forced to sit him out in extra timeregardless of the anger (if any) of Westbrook himself, whose keeping on track was simply impossible to justify.
The Lakers came back in the third quarter with 18 points from Malik Monk (29 at the end) and a 31-13 run. In the fourth quarter and still at 110-106, Westbrook missed two free throws. Barret (36 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists) forced overtime with a 3-pointer, but the Knicks (24-29, 1.5 wins behind play-in) yielded in extra time. LeBron, in his return, had 29 points (10 in overtime), 13 rebounds and 10 assists. Anthony Davis was an all-rounder: 28+17+2, with 3 steals and 4 blocks, to offset Randle’s good game (32+16+7, but 5 turnovers). And the Lakers were saved from what could have been a new defeat in the midst of the embarrassment, with the Bucks and Blazers as the next rivals. And all this, while the Westbrook debate rages, sponsored by the demerits of the player himself, who chains one disaster after another, adds his lowest score of the season, does not convince anyone and, as much as certain rumors insist, It is very difficult for him to leave the Lakers in a market that closes in a few days (February 10). Because no one can assume his contract and, above all, because no one loves him. It is damaged material, toxic product, crashed star. A player who takes a lot from you and gives you very little. a cool guy with tarnished reputation. In every season there is a story that stands out above the others. And in this one, unfortunately, it’s Westbrook’s. A player who has hit rock bottom.
