LOS ANGELES — Lakers coach Darvin Ham benched Russell Westbrook For the last three possessions of L.A.’s 106-104 loss at the Portland Trail Blazers Ham did not hesitate to answer the question Sunday asking if he would have to deal with any disagreements with the point guard over his decision.
“We don’t have the time to allow people to feel or be in their feelings. “Like, we’re trying turn this around,” Ham said after the Blazers win dropped the Lakers’ record to 0-3. “I don’t have the time to allow one person to feel about when, where, and how they should play in the game.
With 4:42 left in the fourth quarter, Westbrook had scored 10 points, including 6-for-15 shooting, six assists, and six rebounds. Ham had subbed Westbrook back into the game with the Lakers leading eight by eight. In the following four-and-a-half minutes, Portland outscored L.A. 10 to 10. Ham then pulled Westbrook with 12.4 seconds remaining.
L.A. was struggling as a team, shooting 3-for-9 overall & 0-for-4 at 3 — contributing to a 6-for33 day from the exterior (18.2%), which made the Lakers’ season total of 25-for-118 with 3-pointers.
Westbrook made one of those misses with just 27.3 seconds left in the game, and only 18 seconds remaining on the shot clock. L.A. held a 102-101 advantage and he missed a 15 foot pull-up jumper by the Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic Nearly invited him to shoot by giving room with his defense.
Blazers coach Chauncey Blitzer said that he had put him on Russ to play off Russ.
When Westbrook was asked his thoughts on the shot, Westbrook said he was trying a two for one strategy. It is a strategy that seeks to score an offensive opportunity in the early part of the shot clock. Ham said that Westbrook’s shot was more problematic than his strategy.
Ham said, “I wish that we would’ve attacked it directly.” “That’s the shot teams want you take but don’t want to give up — long 2, contested 2, what have you. His ability to explode and get the ball to the basket while still being at a high-level, makes me wish he had done that. And with Nurkic back there with five fouls.”
Ham said, “Shot selection must be something we work on.”
LeBron JamesL.A.’s leading scorer with 31 points, he missed a game-tying jumper at buzzer. He was then asked his philosophy about trying to get a two-for-1 when you have the lead and not playing from behind.
James stated, “I feel that this interview is a set up to speak,” “I can see that you guys belong in the entire Russell Westbrook category right at this moment. I don’t like losing. I don’t like to lose at any kind of thing. I don’t care what happens in the season, or over the course my career. But I hate to lose. This was especially true when we played this game. Portland, however, deserves our thanks.
“You guys can write all you want about Russ. But I’m not up to that. I won’t do it. It has been repeated many times. This is not me. [M.O.]. “It’s not who you are.”
James answered a question about manipulating opposing defenses later in his news conference and was honest.
James stated that he always has time and score, and the defense’s playing against him throughout the game. “It’s always in me,” James said. “I am not running around out there, that’s for certain.”
This game was a waste of a strong 22 point, 10-rebound, six block performance. Anthony Davis.
Davis, visibly frustrated, stated that “Defense was really good… The shot-making hasn’t.” “That’s what makes the big difference.”
James said that the team was feeling “s —-y” after the loss, which is to be expected.
“A group of guys that is excited after a loss is the worst business you can be in. This is my mood right now. But, I will let my frustrations and what I have go. When I leave the tunnel, it’s gone.
L.A. continues with its early-season schedule, including a two-game visit against the Denver Nuggets (2-1) Wednesday, and the Minnesota Timberwolves (1-1) Friday
Davis stated that there is no way for us to lose the game. “That’s the source of my frustration.”