Lakers extol Russell Westbrook’s vitality, impression off bench in loss

MINNEAPOLIS — Russell Westbrook got here off the bench in a regular-season recreation for the primary time since his rookie 12 months within the Los Angeles Lakers’ 111-102 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves and impressed his workforce by taking to the function.

“He was nice,” mentioned LeBron James, who mentioned Westbrook’s vitality “catapulted” L.A.’s general effort. “He was nice all recreation.”

Westbrook performed 33 minutes, greater than he had in any of the three video games he began this season, and completed with 18 factors, eight rebounds and three assists. Nonetheless, he shot 6-for-17 general and 5-for-10 from the free throw line and was liable for 5 of the Lakers’ 22 workforce turnovers.

Whereas it wasn’t an ideal night time by any means, it was an encouraging take a look at a match that new coach Darvin Ham mentioned with Westbrook a number of occasions over the summer time earlier than going to it within the second week of the season.

“From Day 1, I discussed I am the man that is keen to do no matter for the workforce,” Westbrook mentioned. “I am going to sacrifice no matter it’s that must be sacrificed — elements of my recreation that I’ve completed for years to accommodate no matter it’s that the coach wants me to do, and I am going to proceed to try this.”

That sacrifice included being the first defender on Minnesota’s 7-1 heart Rudy Gobert within the closing lineup, with Ham electing to play small down the stretch with large males Anthony Davis (decrease again tightness) and Thomas Bryant (thumb surgical procedure) unavailable.

“Russ, my hat’s off to him as soon as once more,” Ham mentioned. “Got here off and confirmed the kind of impression he can have in that reserve function and shoring up our bench — not simply coming in and attempting to keep up something however coming in and taking it up a notch. So he was nice in that function tonight. And I sit up for seeing him in it extra as soon as we begin getting wholesome our bodies again.”

Westbrook mentioned there have been some changes he needed to make to his routine to remain prepared. He usually sprints from one facet of the courtroom to the opposite simply earlier than tipoff, for example, to get his coronary heart price up. On Friday, he rode an train bike within the tunnel earlier than coming within the recreation halfway via the primary quarter.

However his response Friday was totally different from the one he gave after the preseason finale, when he got here off the bench and lasted solely 5 minutes earlier than exiting with hamstring soreness, later questioning if Ham’s resolution to deliver him in as a reserve might have brought about the harm.

This time round, there was acceptance from Westbrook.

“I am truly not mad with how we performed tonight,” he mentioned. “Our vitality was in the appropriate path, which I am completely happy about. And I believe it is vital clearly to get AD again and get guys wholesome, getting us — get issues going. However till then, no one’s going to really feel sorry for us. We bought to discover a strategy to compete and get a win.”

Certainly, the Goal Heart crowd serenaded the Lakers with an “Oh and 5! Oh and 5!” chant within the recreation’s ultimate minute.

And Davis missed a recreation simply 5 video games into the season, after declaring throughout coaching camp his purpose to play in all 82 video games on the schedule.

However there was nonetheless endurance and optimism being expressed by a few of the Lakers’ key stakeholders.

“He has to do what’s greatest for his physique,” James mentioned of Davis. “He has to do what’s greatest for his physique and his thoughts. If his thoughts is gone, then every little thing else will fall to the wayside. So he has to belief himself. Sure, he desires to play each recreation. Sure, he desires to be on the market for our workforce. However he is had quite a lot of bumps and bruises over the previous couple of years, so he has to belief himself, belief his workers and never put his physique in hurt’s means.”

And Westbrook mentioned the early-season accidents aren’t inflicting him to worry that it might all go sideways like final 12 months when he, James and Davis had been restricted to only 21 video games collectively.

“To be trustworthy, no,” Westbrook mentioned. “Like I mentioned, I be ok with at present. AD is taking good care of his physique, which is an important. Be certain his thoughts is in the appropriate place, as a result of I believe that is an important a part of any harm. When he comes again, we’ll be able to go, and hopefully that is sooner quite than later.”