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Russell Westbrook’s Surprising Response To Awful Lakers Showing (Video)

Russell Westbrook’s Surprising Response To Awful Lakers Showing (Video)

The Los Angeles Lakers got blown out by the Portland Trail Blazers 105-90 on Saturday.

Although LA has traditionally struggled against the Blazers, this year’s Portland squad isn’t the same one from past seasons. They’re not particularly good. So the fact that the Lakers couldn’t even kind of keep it close against them is deeply troubling.

Russell Westbrook was terrible in the losing effort – again. He recorded eight points on 1-of-13 shooting, six assists and six turnovers in 29 minutes of action. For his troubles, he earned nearly $540,000.

In a game with no LeBron James and Anthony Davis out for the majority of it, Westbrook simply could not find his rhythm at all. The whole point of his acquisition was his ability to take over if James and Davis missed large chunks of the season with health issues. Thus far, that has not panned out.

Through 10 games Westbrook has recorded more fights with fans (not one, but two) than impressive efforts.

After the fact, he remained defiant.

“I don’t put pressure on myself to do anything,” he said. “I’m very elite at what I do, and I believe that every single night. And that’s how I have to play. There is no extra pressure of any sort for me. Like I said, I’ve been doing this every year. It’s not a new thing. So when I figure it out then I’ll be in a better position. But right now, so many things are happening; lineup changes, so many different people in and out.”

That said, at least Westbrook can acknowledge that the Lakers are not doing what they need to be right now.

“The way we’re playing, we’re not winning, which is primarily the reason I feel like I need to do something better for our team when we don’t win,” he continued.

“That’s just how I am as a player, so losing definitely doesn’t help anything. When we win, then shoot, I don’t care what happens. But when we lose, me personally, I always take ownership of my play because if I’m not playing the best way that I can play, then I feel like it’s on me to play better to give us a better chance of winning ball games.”

At a certain point, Westbrook’s schtick starts to get old. The fact that head coach Frank Vogel is now so bluntly calling him out is telling. Patience is beginning to wear thing.

Obviously it’s still early and things can change. But for now, the Westbrook acquisition is looking like a straight up disaster.

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Anthony Amador

A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.

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