The Los Angeles Lakers are finally playing in the playoffs as they wished to do so for the last two years. But the general manager Rob Pelinka was not able to construct a roster that could fulfill their wish. However, by this trade deadline, everything landed in line for the Lakers. They added some incredible players to the squad, which changed the whole outlook of their team. In the past two months, the Lakers have become one of the best teams in the Western Conference. All thanks to the new additions to the team.
The Lakers squad has been struggling to find their way to win the trophy after they last won it in 2020. LA’s superstar duo combined well for the season to give the team a much-needed trophy in the league. But ever since then, it has been a major downfall for the team. Once, they were kicked out of the playoffs, as last year, they did not even manage to qualify for the playoffs. It was the first time that LeBron had even missed any playoff in his entire career. And all the blames came down to one player Russell Westbrook.
Russell Westbrook Performing Better Than New Lakers’ Additions
It was high time that the front office did something about the team’s roster construction. And in order to make things right, they decided that Westbrook would have to leave to make a place for better players. After failing at his debut season in the Lakers, everything came upon his shoulders. Even the mistakes that the whole team should endure were pushed onto him alone. And finally, at the trade deadline, he was involved in the tree team trade.
Russell first went to Utah, where he did not play a single game because they would not have been able to afford him. He was directly negotiating a buyout contract with the Lakers’ city rival Los Angeles Clippers. There were many teams in the picture, but Clippers decided to give Westbrook their home. And now the 34-year-old is averaging better numbers than all three new players combined in the Lakers. Russ has been averaging 26 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 7.3 assists in the playoffs. That is an incredible stat that nobody expected from the Lakers’ point guard.
Westbrook Becomes LA Clipper’s Best Player
It’s great to see Russell Westbrook still playing at this level in 2023. 🥶 pic.twitter.com/Ba1YMa29Ul
— Hilltop Hoops (@HilltopNBA) April 22, 2023
The former NBA champion is playing like one of the best players in the league. Russell Westbrook has gone full turbo mode against the Pheonix Suns in their first series. Although his whole team is not able to reciprocate the same efforts, he has been on fire. In the last three games, Westbrook has scored 37 points, 30 points, and 28 points, respectively.
Clearly, Russell has not been the same player since 2017, when he first became the MVP for his extraordinary energetic performance. But leaving the Lakers and coming to the Clippers was one of the best decisions for him. He has been playing like his older self and more freely than he did in Ham’s team.
