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SAN FRANCISCO — Russell Westbrook mentioned he “completely” believes that Los Angeles Lakers coach Darvin Ham’s resolution to deliver him off the bench in L.A.’s preseason finale may have triggered the hamstring pressure he suffered that night time.
“I have been doing the identical factor for 14 years straight,” Westbrook mentioned following the Lakers’ 123-109 loss to the Golden State Warriors of their regular-season opener Tuesday night time. “Truthfully, I did not even know what to do pregame. Being trustworthy, I used to be attempting to determine find out how to keep heat and unfastened. … That is one thing I simply wasn’t accustomed to.”
Westbrook was again within the beginning lineup towards the Warriors — enjoying with the primary unit for the 1,005th time in 1,022 profession video games — after being restricted within the days main as much as it due to his hamstring.
He performed simply 5 minutes within the exhibition loss to the Sacramento Kings on Friday. He alluded to having the ability to play extra, however selecting to not as a result of, “I wasn’t going to threat it in a preseason sport.”
He performed 31 minutes towards Golden State and completed with 19 factors on 7-for-12 capturing, 11 rebounds, three assists, one steal and 4 turnovers. His plus-minus ranking of minus-six was higher than each LeBron James (-10) and Anthony Davis (-21).
Ham mentioned he needed Westbrook’s method to competitors to jolt his workforce from the opening tip.
“You wish to begin the sport off the proper means when it comes to your vitality and being in assault mode, and nobody higher than him,” mentioned Ham, who spoke to reporters earlier than Westbrook did following the sport. “I imply, it is what we’ve got and we acquired some key guys harm. It is Sport 1, give them an opportunity to exit and compete on the highest degree. I assumed he was strong, I assumed he was strong. A pair possessions I want I can get again, however general I assumed he was strong.”
Earlier than the sport, Ham mentioned he needed to “set up” a constant beginning unit.
“We do not wish to be a type of groups,” he mentioned, “the place groups are swaying in line with who their opponent is beginning.”
Nevertheless, requested whether or not that meant he would stick along with his opening-night starters for a stretch of time shifting ahead, Ham wouldn’t commit.
“We’ll see,” he mentioned. “I am a day-by-day man.”
Davis mentioned after the sport that Westbrook’s bench position towards the Kings was merely experimentation.
“I do not suppose he was ever out of [the starting group],” Davis mentioned. “I believe it was a glance [at a different rotation] in Sac.”
It was solely the twenty second sport that Davis, Westbrook and James performed collectively since L.A. traded for Westbrook in the summertime of 2021. The loss on Tuesday dropped their file collectively to 11-11. But Davis and James had been inspired.
“I believe we performed nicely,” Davis mentioned. “We needed to return out and all people be aggressive. We did not wish to — I believe final 12 months at instances we had been enjoying selfless, like, ‘Right here [you take it].’ … It took away our aggression. At sure moments all through the sport, certainly one of us three had been aggressive and it labored out for it to look good.”
Added James: “I assumed all of us simply form of performed free. And it resulted in all three of us just about being environment friendly from the ground.”
TNT analyst Charles Barkley did not see it the identical means.
“You understand how I really feel about Russell Westbrook,” Barkley mentioned at halftime of the printed. “I love him, I respect him. It is time for the Lakers to maneuver him. They’ve taken all his pleasure out of life and basketball. … This man was once so exuberant and play with nice vitality and nice emotion, I believe the damage and tear mentally final 12 months, beginning this 12 months. … And the factor is, he’ll get the blame it doesn’t matter what, as a result of the Lakers ain’t a championship contender. … I believe he wants a contemporary begin, I believe the Lakers want a contemporary begin, as a result of they don’t seem to be contenders.”
Westbrook was requested about Barkley’s feedback and whether or not he has misplaced pleasure for the sport since becoming a member of L.A.
“You understand man, I am tremendous blessed and leaning lots on my religion,” Westbrook mentioned. “So, I’ve a whole lot of nice family and friends, good individuals in my nook that assist me by means of thick and skinny, and when I’ve God in my nook, it does not actually matter what occurs exterior of that. I keep on the right track, keep targeted, keep locked in. That is all I can ask.
“All the things else that comes round it, I will proceed doing what I am doing, keep locked in on my craft and all the pieces else will care for itself.”
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