The Los Angeles Lakers are desperate to make their way to the postseason to avoid missing it the second time. Last season’s mediocrity also resulted in LA missing the postseason and ending up in the 8th position. Although the team started the season hoping to improve, they look worst as they sit at the bottom of the table. It was quite clear that the Lakers would need to make changes if they desired to go far this season. However, the Lakers have made one change, and the experts believe the team will need more qualified players.
Last week, Los Angeles welcomed a new forward to the team Rui Hachimura. The young forward will provide LeBron James with all the help required. With the return of Anthony Davis and the added forward, Hollywood is still stuck at the bottom. Everyone hoped the Lakers would get in perspective with the return of their beast Davis. But it seems LA needs more help than the fans expected, and the front office is reluctant to provide it. Besides the poor roster construction, the 2020 champs are slowed down by injuries and awful official decisions.
The Lakers Are Not So Sure About Russell Westbrook
After winning the championship title in 2020, LA has not been the same top-tier team in the league. When they bought Russell in 2021, everyone thought it would bring new electric energy to the team. However, it turned out to be a season to forget as Westbrook became one of the biggest flops. Cut to 2022, Hollywood brought a fresh head coach who helped the 34-year-old find his place in the misfit. Darvin Ham understood that the superstar trio was not complementing each other and came up with a way to make it work.
Anthony Davis and LeBron James are one of the best duos in the NBA, but it has not worked for the last two seasons. And Westbrook was already a misfit when he arrived. However, Ham’s idea to make him come off the bench did the magic. As soon as he started making entries from the bench and led the second unit, the Lakers improved slightly. Since adapting to his new role, Russ has been averaging 15.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 7.5 assists. But his inability to make baskets from a distance has been a problem and weakens LA’s offense.
When the Lakers started the season, they were terrible at making shots from a distance. But with time, they found different ways to improve their performance on the court. On the other hand, 2017 started well and declined suddenly at the end of this month. Russ started with 50% from the field when the new year began. And dropped to a dreadful 32.7% and three-point shooting to a shocking 3.7%. Already Hollywood is not doing well, and Westbrook’s bad form will put more pressure on them.
