There have been plenty of questionable streaks between Russell Westbrook and LeBron James in recent weeks, and the latest was against the Suns this Sunday night. The leader has again made a mistake, even if the King is not beyond reproach. The attitude remains highly questionable.
More than ever in difficulty in the West, the Lakers took a real spanking this Sunday evening, against the Suns. A match that proves to Frank Vogel’s men that they don’t have what it takes to fight this campaign, at least if some still had doubts. A real butcher’s shop including 48 points for Phoenix at the end of the first quarter.
Attack is one thing, but if a team dreams of winning the title, there also needs to be some defense. This is where the contribution of Anthony Davis is sorely lacking in Los Angeles, even if the interior is far from being the solution to all the current problems. LeBron James is targeted, as is Russell Westbrook.
LeBron overwhelmed after a disappointing video!
To better understand, we must return to an action at the start of the match against the Suns. Westbrook attacks the circle and performs a simple shot… which he misses badly with an airball. Nothing surprising about this exercise, but LeBron, on the rebound, is annoyed. Results ? He does not come back to defend and stays in the background with the opposing player.
Russ airballs a midrange jumper and Lebron don’t run back on defense pic.twitter.com/csg9Z0eFV0
— Ted Budd ???????? (@TedBuddy8) March 14, 2022
That says a lot about the King’s motivation right now. He no longer hides his displeasure, and as soon as Westbrook misses something, he does not want to make an effort in stride. It’s no longer a surprise that Russ misses a shot, but the Lakers won’t get far if LeBron stops playing like that in the middle of the action.
Barring a huge turnaround, expect a divorce next summer, after only a year. The duo does not work, and the return of Anthony Davis will not change much. That’s good, the front office could create a huge Big 4 with this trade. Rob Pelinka has been warned.
Russell Westbrook misses, LeBron James gets annoyed and stops playing: it’s a known sequence for Lakers fans this season. Not a first, and unfortunately not a last. The crisis is deep in this roster, to the point that many are impatiently waiting for the end.
