NBA Rumors: LA Lakers concerned about Russell Westbrook's playoff viability
The LA Lakers got a better version of Russell Westbrook this season after his move to the bench. Westbrook has averaged 15.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game. He has been excellent at making reads defensively and inspiring the second unit to play hard. He is among the frontrunners to win the Sixth Man of the Year.
However, Westbrook is shooting 41.8% from the field, including 28.2% from 3-point range. He has his moments in every game, but it's combined with a head-scratching play in crunch time. The Lakers seem to have had their concerns about this off lately. According to Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus, the Lakers are concerned about his "playoff viability."
Here's what the NBA insider wrote about this:
“The Lakers are fighting to climb into the top 10 in the Western Conference... While coach Darvin Ham has found a viable role for Westbrook off the bench, the franchise does have concerns about his playoff viability, per multiple sources.”
Russell Westbrook's inability to make shots consistently makes him the weak link in the LA Lakers' offense in late-game situations. Opposing defenses have shown zero hesitancy in leaving him open on the perimeter and sitting in the paint.
LA Lakers can't afford to rely on Russell Westbrook in crunch time
Russell Westbrook is converting 57.8% of his shots in the restricted area on 5.7 attempts per game, the worst conversion rate among players attempting at least five shots in the restricted area. It's where he has thrived throughout his career, but he has shown a tendency to miss wide-open layups in late-game situations.
He remains among the worst shooters from every other shot zone, especially the mid-range, making only 31.1% of his shots from there. The Lakers are already one of the worst shooting teams in the league, ranking fourth in 3-point shooting percentage (33.7%) and second last in makes per game (10.5).
The LA Lakers have the opportunity to flip the nine-time NBA All-Star's contract for pieces that could put them in a better position to escape with wins in close games. They have been reluctant to attach their two remaining first-round picks, which has proved to be a stumbling block in a deal coming to fruition.
The Lakers need to secure a deal, though. They are 13th in the Western Conference with 31 games left this season. They are 2.5 games behind the 10th seed and 3.5 games behind the sixth seed. That gap is only going to widen as the season progresses, shortening the Lakers' window to make a significant turnaround.
Click here to read Eric Pincus' report on Russell Westbrook and the LA Lakers.