This has not been a good preseason for Russell Westbrook.
The embattled Los Angeles Lakers point guard has appeared in three exhibition games, and he hasn’t played well in any of them, failing to score more than 12 points in any one contest and shooting a combined 7-of-18 from the field.
More than anything, he hasn’t been aggressive, perhaps in an effort to rein himself in and play a style of ball that is more beneficial to the team.
On Wednesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves, he was 1-of-3 from the field and finished with five points, four assists and three turnovers in 25 minutes.
If Westbrook will not have the ball in his hands as much, and especially if he will play fewer minutes than he did last season, where will his scoring opportunities come from?
Head coach Darvin Ham explained how Westbrook can score while staying within the confines of the role he wants the former MVP to play.
“Again, we’re playing a positionless style so the opportunities are not gonna always come for him with the ball in your hands,” Ham said. “In terms of Russ, there’s running lanes, there’s guy that are willing passers that are gonna find him, we just got to commit to our running habits and our spacing. He can find himself in the corner, he can find himself in the dunker, he can find himself pushing and leading the break. And I think you saw all of that when we played Phoenix in Vegas.”
Although everyone wants Westbrook to accept a reduced and more team-oriented role, the Lakers will still need him to score a fair number of points in order to have a chance to win on a regular basis.
The key for him is efficiency and balance so that he can find a happy medium between being his aggressive self and shooting a high percentage while limiting turnovers and other miscues.
